Udita Duhan: A Master of All Trades

Image Credit: Hockey India

Be it her defensive duties or her proficiency with penalty corners, Udita Duhan consistently proves she can don any role given to her and she will do it with flair. Having been named Player of the Tournament for the Women’s Asia Cup in Gongshu, China, Udita Duhan proved to the world that the comeback is always stronger than the setback.

Udita hails from Nangal village in Hisar district, Haryana, and her journey is quite the story. Her father was both a policeman and a handball player, and much like him, Udita first fell in love with handball. But it was hockey that distracted her, and she later decided to elope with the sport when she chose to pursue it as a career. Tragedy struck in 2015, when she lost her father, but her mother encouraged her to join the SAI hostel and chase her dreams. What makes Udita near indispensable is her adaptability. She began her career as a forward, then transitioned into defense, and can also play midfield. As the 2025 Women’s Asia Cup suggested, she can assume and ace penalty corner duties, having converted three goals in the tournament. Though disappointed by the final’s result, Udita said she was proud of the team effort and victories over Japan and South Korea, which gave the team great confidence. This proved the team’s character to grind out difficult matches and stick together as a unit.

Her all round abilities caught the attention of Hockey India League franchises when she became the most expensive women’s player in the auction, with Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers securing her services for a staggering amount. Udita redefined the meaning of a complete player in Gongshu, China, when she displayed not only her skill with the ball but also her ability to motivate and lead her team at crucial moments. She is a defender with an attacking mindset, deadly on penalty corners, and capable of leading from the front, much like men’s team captain Harmanpreet Singh, who brings identical qualities to his side.

Udita has previously credited head coach Harendra Singh, stating that a lot has changed under him, especially since there is no longer a language barrier stating that he is Indian, so his communication is clear, and the women can freely express themselves on the field. Entering her prime years, she now targets her next big assignment, the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. As one of the senior players, she is committed to delivering medal success. After missing the Pro League in Europe earlier in the year, Udita said her target was to make a comeback in an important tournament like the Asia Cup and she did. The rules state that if you get knocked down, you get back up, and Udita proved to the entire world that she is up and ready. Though India could not secure gold in Gongshu, the team is more than ready for their next assignment, and Udita will be ready with her all round prowess to silence her critics and drag flick her way into the book of legends.