Deepak Thakur Sonkhla (popularly known as Deepak Thakur) is a hockey forward in Indian team.

Family

Thakur's father is an ex-serviceman and his mother a house-wife. His younger sister is a national

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player.

Career

Junior level

Thakur became popular after his solo effort, A goal poacher, Deepak Thakur rose from the junior ranks when he scored a hat-trick in the 2001 Junior World Cup final against Australia leading India to the titleard showing 6–1. He finished the tournament with ten goals and was named the 'top scorer of the world cup . Born in hoshiarpur, Punjab. Thakur took up hockey on his father's insistence and was among the most consistent scorers in 2003, when Indian hockey made considerable progress winning four tournaments. Thakur made up for one of the most lethal attack line along with Gagan Ajit Singh and Prabhjot Singh, in a career spanning over eight years. Has played in 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics.

Senior level

He debuted for the senior national team in June 1999 against

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. He was part of national squad in 2000 Sydney and

2004 Athens The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...

Olympic.

Awards

He was awarded

Arjuna Award The Arjuna Award, officially known as Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, is the second-highest sporting honour of India, the highest being the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award is named after Arjuna, one ...

in 2004 for taking Indian hockey to next higher level.

References

External links

Interview with Deepak Thakur : Beacon of Indian hockey

at bharatiyahockey.org {{DEFAULTSORT:Thakur, Deepak 1980 births Male field hockey forwards All articles with a promotional tone Articles with a promotional tone from August 2010 Field hockey players at the 2000 Summer Olympics Field hockey players at the 2004 Summer Olympics 2002 Men's Hockey World Cup players 2010 Men's Hockey World Cup players Living people Olympic field hockey players of India Sportspeople from Hoshiarpur Recipients of the Arjuna Award Field hockey players from Punjab, India Asian Games medalists in field hockey World Series Hockey players Field hockey players at the 2002 Asian Games Indian male field hockey players Asian Games silver medalists for India Medalists at the 2002 Asian Games Field hockey players at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Field hockey players at the 2010 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games silver medallists for India Commonwealth Games medallists in field hockey