MSSA hockey: Deepali on a roll in new role

Deepaliu00a0Shirgaonkar's brace for Canossa (Andheri) against St Lawrence (Borivli) which helped the school's girls under-14 team to advance to the second round of the MSSA-Nike Inter-School hockey tournament yesterday provided confirmation of the fact that she has talent that has to be taken seriously.

Last year, she won the best player award in the inter-school tournament. It not only made her very proud, but the award also changed her parents' mindset about sports. She was then encouraged to pursue the sport she loves.

"My parents have also given me permission to play hockey when I go to college," she said.



New role
Formerly, a centre half, Deepali played as a centre forward in this year's tournament. "This is the first match I have played in this position. It feels good to have scored two goals for the first time in my life in a school tournament. I like playing as a midfielder, but it is very difficult and tiring to play forward."

Deepali is a proud owner of a hockey stick presented to her by stalwart Dhanraj Pillay last year when she got the award. "I don't play with it though. It's a bit small," she said.