Deepak Thakur

This article is about the hockey player. For the singer, see Bigg Boss 12.

Deepak Thakur Sonkhla (born 28 December 1980), popularly known as Deepak Thakur, was a hockey forward in Indian team.

Deepak Thakur

Thakur (right) receiving the Arjuna Award from President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (left), 2005
Personal information
Full name	Deepak Thakur Sonkhla
Born	(1980-12-28) 28 December 1980 (age 44) Bhamowal, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India
Playing position	Forward
Senior career
Years	Team
	Indian Oil Corporation
2007	HTC Stuttgarter Kickers
2012	Sher-e-Punjab
National team
Years	Team	Caps	Goals
1999–2010	India	69+	(73)
Medal record Men's field hockey Representing  India Asian Games 2002 Busan Team Asia Cup 2003 Kuala Lumpur Team 1999 Kuala Lumpur Team Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Team Junior World Cup 2001 Hobart Team

Family

Thakur's father was an ex-serviceman and his mother a house-wife. His younger sister was a national badminton 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. He played in 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics.

Senior level

He debuted for the senior national team in June 1999 against Germany. He was part of national squad in 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic.

Awards

He was awarded Arjuna Award^[1] in 2004 for taking Indian hockey to next higher level.^[2]