LJeepak Thakur is a famous hockey player. He has exhibited the traditional Indian hockey skills like a master craftsman. It was his sole effort that India won the junior World Cup Hockey Tournament, beating the formidable and unpredictable Argentina in the final. He was born on December 28, 1980 at Una, Himachal Pradesh.
Deepak Thakur stole the thunder when he scored a scintillating hat- trick in style against the underdogs, Scotland. He again notched up a super hat-trick against Argentina in the final to create a history of sorts. Deepak became a celebrity in India overnight.
Later he went with the Indian team to the Sydney Olympics, where he scored a goal against Argentina. He went to Malaysia to play in the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament and scored five goals for India, which earned a bronze medal for India. At the Prime Minister’s Gold Cup Hockey Tournament in Dhaka in 2001, where India won the Gold Medal, Deepak Thakur scored three goals.
If Indian hockey can be proud of anyone it is the hockey wizard Dhy; Chand. He mesmerised the world with his playing talent. The frequency with which he used to score goals was really a treat to watch. During his lifetime he became a legend and was aptly called as ‘juggling turn’.