Bhubaneswar: Former Indian women’s hockey team defender and penalty corner specialist Deep Grace Ekka exchanged wedding vows with Indian Army personnel Anoop Lakra at Lulkidihi church under Balishankra block in Odisha’s Sundargarh district on Tuesday.
The wedding was attended by her fellow hockey players and prominent dignitaries of the region.
Ekka, a resident of Lulkidhi village in Sundargarh of Odisha, had got engaged to Lakra, a native of Deogaon village of Subdega block in the same district, on January 26. Lakra was an inmate of Sports Authority of India (SAI) hostel in Sundargarh and had also represented Odisha in a few national-level hockey matches, sources said.
Born in a modest tribal farmers’ family, Ekka is the youngest among three sons and two daughters of Charles and Jaimani Ekka. She announced her international retirement, ending an illustrious career during which she represented India in two Olympic Games, in January. The 29-year-old has not only helped the team win a host of medals over the years but also played a pivotal role as they qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics for the first time after 1980. She was a vital cog in the team’s defence line at the Tokyo Games where India finished fourth.
Among her prized possessions are a bronze medal from 2014 Asian Games and silver from 2018 Asian Games, as well as Women’s Asia Cup gold (Japan 2017). She was also a member of the Indian team that won bronze in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
She was selected for Arjun award in 2022.
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