Sergdxx at 03:19, 13 April 2026

2026-04-13T03:19:18Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian field hockey player (born 1994)}}
{{prose|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox field hockey player
| name = Deep Grace Ekka
| image = Deep Grace Ekka.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|6|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lulkidhi, [[Sundergarh district|Sundergarh]], [[Odisha]], India
| height = 1.58 m
| weight = 63 kg
| position = Defender
| currentclub = [[Railways Sports Promotion Board|Railways]]
| years1 =
| clubs1 = [[Hockey Odisha]]
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 =
| clubs2 = [[Railways Sports Promotion Board|Railways]]
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 2025–
| clubs3 = [[Odisha Warriors]]
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| nationalyears1 = 2011–2023
| nationalteam1 = [[India women's national field hockey team|India]]
| nationalcaps1 = 268
| nationalgoals1 = 24
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Women's [[field hockey]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Field hockey at the Asian Games|Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Field hockey at the 2018 Asian Games|2018 Jakarta]]|[[Field hockey at the 2018 Asian Games – Women|Team]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[Field hockey at the 2014 Asian Games|2014 Incheon]]|[[Field hockey at the 2014 Asian Games – Women|Team]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[Field hockey at the 2022 Asian Games|2022 Hangzhou]]|[[Field hockey at the 2022 Asian Games – Women's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalComp|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[Hockey at the 2022 Commonwealth Games|2022 Birmingham]]|[[Hockey at the 2022 Commonwealth Games – Women's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Women's Hockey Asia Cup|Asia Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2017 Women's Hockey Asia Cup|2017 Gifu]]|}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2013 Women's Hockey Asia Cup|2013 Kuala Lumpur]]|}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2022 Women's Hockey Asia Cup|2022 Muscat]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Women's Asian Champions Trophy|Asian Champions Trophy]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2016 Women's Asian Champions Trophy|2016 Singapore]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[2023 Women's Asian Champions Trophy|2023 Ranchi]]|}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2013 Women's Asian Champions Trophy|2013 Kakamigahara]]|}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2018 Asian Women's Hockey Champions Trophy|2018 Donghae]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Women's FIH Hockey Nations Cup|FIH Nations Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2022 Women's FIH Hockey Nations Cup|2022 Spain]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Women's Hockey Junior World Cup|Junior World Cup]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2013 Women's Hockey Junior World Cup|2013 Mönchengladbach]]|}}
}}
'''Deep Grace Ekka''' (born 3 June 1994) is an Indian former [[field hockey]] player,<ref>{{cite web |title=Four Odisha players part of Olympic-bound women's hockey squad |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/Four-Odisha-players-part-of-Olympic-bound-womens-hockey-squad/articleshow/53177569.cms |website=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=12 July 2016 |access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref> who represented the [[India women's national field hockey team|India national field hockey team]]. She has been selected for Arjuna Award in 2022.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-15 |title=Odisha's Deep Grace Ekka selected for Arjuna Award |url=https://sambadenglish.com/odishas-deep-grace-ekka-selected-for-arjuna-award/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Early life==
Deep Grace Ekka was born on 3 June 1994 in a small village called Lulkidhi in the [[Sundergarh district]] of Odisha. She is the daughter of Charles and Jayamani Ekka.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=http://orisports.com/PersonDetails.aspx?pId=NjAx |title=PERSONALITIES |website=Orisports.com |access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref>

She started playing hockey in school and was coached by Tej Kumar Xess (2005–06). During a round of hockey selections at her school, she was selected to join the SAI-SAG centre of the [[Sports Authority of India]] in September 2007 and started playing at state level at the age of 13. She began to be coached by Lucela Ekka and Saroj Mohanty.<ref name=":1" /> At the age of 16, she played at the senior nationals in Sonepat.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://thebridge.in/players-speak/watching-athletes-with-disabilities-drives-push-harder-deep-grace-ekka/|title=I secretly nursed the desire to be a goalkeeper | By Deep Grace Ekka|first=Deep Grace|last=Ekka|date=20 July 2018|website=Thebridge.in|access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>

In 2011, she played at the National Games in Ranchi. She was also selected for the Junior National Camp and travelled to Bangkok for the Junior Asia Cup.<ref name=":0" />

She started as a defender, but her desire was to become a goalkeeper as her brother and she used to play sometimes but her uncle, who was her coach, did not allow her to pursue or practise as a goalkeeper, so having no choice she became a defender.<ref name=":0" />

==Career==
* She has 150 international caps and has scored 3 international goals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hockeyindia.org/news/hockey-india-congratulates-deep-grace-ekka-on-completing-150-international-caps-for-india.html |title=Senior Women Core Probables |website=Hockeyindia.org |access-date=29 July 2016 |archive-date=4 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504211056/http://hockeyindia.org/news/hockey-india-congratulates-deep-grace-ekka-on-completing-150-international-caps-for-india.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===International===
* She doubles up drag flicker defending and winning performances at the 9th women Asia cup in Japan last year.
* Indian Hockey second match at Gold Coast 2018 against Malaysia in Commonwealth Games completed 150 international cabs.
* Made her international debut in the Four-Nation Tournament in Argentina in 2011 in which India won [[Bronze]] medal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Women Finish 3rd In Argentina 4-Nation Tournaments |url=http://www.bharatiyahockey.org/2012/jan2012.html |website=Bharatiyahockey.org |access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref>
* Helped India win the bronze medal in the U-18 Girls` Asia Cup Hockey Championship at [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Poonam to captain girls hockey team in U-18 Asia Cup |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/Poonam-to-captain-girls-hockey-team-in-U-18-Asia-Cup/articleshow/9924212.cms |website=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=9 September 2011 |access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref>
* Represented Indian senior women's team in the FIH World League (Round 2) held at New Delhi from 18 to 24 February 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ritu Rani to Lead Indian Women's Team at World Hockey League Round 2 in Delhi |url=http://thefansofhockey.com/2013/02/05/ritu-rani-to-lead-indian-womens-team-at-world-hockey-league-round-2-in-delhi/id-9207.html#.V5v7fqx36x4 |website=Thefansofhockey.com |date=5 February 2013 |access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref>
* She was a part of the Indian team that made history by winning the bronze medal for the first time in Women Junior Hockey World Cup at Monchengladbach in Germany on 4 July 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Junior Women Team Announced For FIH Hockey Junior World Cup Women 2013 |url=http://hockeyindia.org/news/indian-junior-women-team-announced-for-fih-hockey-junior-world-cup-women-2013.html |website=Hockeyindia.org |date=2 July 2013 |access-date=30 July 2016 |archive-date=22 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122170438/http://hockeyindia.org/news/indian-junior-women-team-announced-for-fih-hockey-junior-world-cup-women-2013.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* She was part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal in the Women's Hockey Asia Cup in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=8th Women's Hockey Asia Cup |url=http://hockeyindia.org/8th-womens-asia-cup |website=Hockeyindia.org |access-date=30 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808080814/http://hockeyindia.org/8th-womens-asia-cup |archive-date=8 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* She was part of the senior Indian team that won the silver medal in the Women's Asian Champions Trophy in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=3rd Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2013 |url=http://hockeyindia.org/3rd-womens-asian-champions-trophy |website=Hockeyindia.org |access-date=30 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808044355/http://hockeyindia.org/3rd-womens-asian-champions-trophy |archive-date=8 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* She was a member of the Indian team that won the women's hockey test series 6–0 against Malaysia held at Kualalumpur from 9 to 17 June 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Women's Hockey Team Blank Malaysia 6–0 In 6-Test Series |url=http://www.bharatiyahockey.org/2014/jul2014.html |website=Bharatiyahockey.org |access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref>
* She was part of the Indian women team that finished fifth in the 20th Commonwealth Games, held in Glasgow from 23 July to 3 August 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=CWG 2014: Full List Of India's 215 Athletes For Glasgow |url=http://www.oneindia.com/sports/cwg-2014-full-list-india-s-215-athletes-glasgow-1483727.html |website=Oneindia.com |date=16 July 2014 |access-date=11 August 2016}}</ref>
* She was a member of the Indian women hockey team that won the bronze medal in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon (South Korea) on 1 October 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Players at Incheon Asian games 2014 |url=http://sports.mapsofindia.com/asian-games/indian-players.html |website=Sports.mapsofindia.com |access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref>
* She was a member of the Indian women team that finished seventh in the Hawkes Bay Cup Tournament, held at Hastings in New Zealand from 11 to 19 April 2015.
* She was part of the Indian team that won the FIH World League Round 2 in New Delhi in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Women Hockey Team Announced For The Upcoming FIH World League Round 2 |url=http://hockeyindia.org/news/indian-women-hockey-team-announced-for-the-upcoming-fih-world-league-round-2.html |website=Hockeyindia.org |date=3 March 2015 |access-date=11 August 2016 |archive-date=12 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812040303/http://hockeyindia.org/news/indian-women-hockey-team-announced-for-the-upcoming-fih-world-league-round-2.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=India Beats Poland 3–1 To Win The Hero FIH Hockey World League Round 2 (Women), Delhi 2015 |url=http://hockeyindia.org/news/india-beats-poland-3-1-to-win-the-hero-fih-hockey-world-league-round-2-women-delhi-2015.html |website=Hockeyindia.org |date=15 March 2015 |access-date=11 August 2016 |archive-date=12 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812025603/http://hockeyindia.org/news/india-beats-poland-3-1-to-win-the-hero-fih-hockey-world-league-round-2-women-delhi-2015.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* She was a member of Indian women hockey team that won five matches, drew one and lost two on its South Africa tour, which took place from 20 February to 1 March 2016.
* She was a member of the India team that finished sixth in the Hawkes Bay Cup Women Hockey Festival, held at [[Hastings, New Zealand|Hastings]] in New Zealand from 2 to 10 April 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=PERSONALITIES |url=http://orisports.com/PersonDetails.aspx?pId=NjAx |website=Orisports.com |access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref>
* Completed her 100th international cap in India's final group stage match against Australia on her 22nd birthday at the FourNation Women Tournament at Darwin in Australia on 3 June 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=Deep Grace Ekka Completes 100 International Caps For India |url=http://hockeyindia.org/news/deep-grace-ekka-completes-100-international-caps-for-india.html |website=Hockeyindia.org |date=3 June 2016 |access-date=30 July 2016 |archive-date=8 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808075122/http://hockeyindia.org/news/deep-grace-ekka-completes-100-international-caps-for-india.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* She was selected for [[Rio Olympics 2016]], Brazil.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rio Olympics 2016: Four Odisha players part of women's hockey squad |url=http://www.sportskeeda.com/hockey/four-odisha-players-part-of-olympic-bound-womens-hockey-squad |website=Sportskeeda.com |date=12 July 2016 |access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref>

===National===
* Helped Odisha win the title in National School (U-17) Hockey Championship in 2009.
* Helped Odisha finish runners-up in the Hockey event of the Women's National Sports Festival at Bhopal in 2010.
* She was a member of the Odisha team that finished 3rd in the inaugural Hockey India Senior National Championship at [[Sonepat]] in 2011.
* Represented Odisha in 34th National games at [[Ranchi]] ([[Jharkhand]]) in 2011.
* Selected by Hockey India to join the Senior National Women coaching camp to be held at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadiumin New Delhi from 27 December to 15 February 2011.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |title=PERSONALITIES |url=http://orisports.com/PersonDetails.aspx?pId=NjAx |website=Orisports.com |access-date=29 July 2016}}</ref>

== Award ==

* [[Arjuna Award]] 2022<ref name=":2" />

==Other information==
* On 26 July 2016, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed Odisha Mining Corporation to provide her a special incentive of Rs 10 lakh for participation in Rio Olympic Games.
* Odisha government on 10 October 2014 announced a cash award of Rs 75,000 lakh for Deep Grace for helping India win women's bronze medal in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon.
* Odisha Cricket Association on 2 October 2014 announced a cash award of Rs 10,000 for Deep Grace for helping India win the bronze medal in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon.
* On 11 August 2014, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited felicitated with a cash award of Rs 1 lakh for helping India win bronze medal in the 2013 Junior Women HockeyWorld Cup in Germany.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{sports links}}
*[https://www.hockeyindia.org/players/deep-grace-ekka-profile-273 Deep Grace Ekka] at [[Hockey India]]

{{Navboxes
|title=India squads
| bg = #0077FF
| fg = #FFFF40
|list1=
{{India FHW Squad 2013 Asia Cup}}
{{India FHW Squad 2014 Asian Games}}
{{India FHW Squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{{India FHW Squad 2017 Asia Cup}}
{{India FHW Squad 2018 World Cup}}
{{India FHW Squad 2018 Asian Games}}
{{India FHW Squad 2020 Summer Olympics}}
{{India FHW Squad 2022 Asia Cup}}
{{India FHW Squad 2022 World Cup}}
{{India FHW Squad 2022 Commonwealth Games}}
{{India FHW Squad 2022 Asian Games}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ekka, Deep Grace}}
[[Category:1994 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Sundergarh district]]
[[Category:Indian women's field hockey players]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian sportswomen]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games field hockey players for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for India]]
[[Category:Women's field hockey defenders]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2014 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2016 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2020 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2018 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2022 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players from Odisha]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2014 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2018 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2022 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Olympic field hockey players for India]]
[[Category:Sportswomen from Odisha]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2014 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2018 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2022 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for India]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games field hockey players for India]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2022 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Asian Games bronze medalists in field hockey]]

Deep Grace Ekka - Revision history

Sergdxx at 03:19, 13 April 2026