India's Deepika Sehrawat scripted history in the Asian Games 2026 Pool B clash against Thailand with nine goals in a single match. India beat Thailand by 20-1 and Deepika broke her own record for most goals in a women's hockey match she set with eight goals against Uzbekistan in the opening match of this edition.
23-year-old Deepika has scored 20 out of India's 58 goals in Asian Games 2026 already. She revealed that she was told by her teammates about the record and her focus was on converting penalty corners into goals.
"I didn't even realise I had set a record after scoring eight goals. I was just focused on converting the penalty corners. My teammates told me about it," Deepika told PTI from Kakamigahara, Japan.
"Even in the Thailand match, I didn't keep count. In the team huddle head coach Sjoerd Marijne told me I had bettered my own world record."
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Deepika's goals came in the 2nd, 8th, 9th, 24th, 33rd, 39th, 51st and 57th minutes. Her teammates, Navneet Kaur and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal scored four and three goals respectively. Neha Goyal, Lalremsiami, Sakshi Rana and captain Salima Tete contributed with a goal each as well.
Thailand's only goal came in the 57th minute. Supansa Samanso scored the consolation goal from a penalty corner.
1982 record still unbroken
Despite another goal fest, India could not break their own record for the biggest goal difference in an Asian Games match. In the 1982 edition of Asian Games, India had beaten Hong Kong 22-0. In 1986, Korea beat Kong Hong by 21 goals. India have beaten Kazakhstan by 21 goals as well in the 2018 edition. Earlier this week, India had beaten Uzbekistan 19-0.
What’s next for India?
India will take on Japan and Singapore in their next two matches on September 25 and 27 respectively. Currently, India are leading Pool B with three big wins. The teams that finish in top two of both pools will advance to the semifinals on September 30. The gold and bronze medal matches will take place on October 2.