Hisar : Savita Punia and Deepika Seharawat may not have been born in Hisar, but the city became the karmabhoomi where their hockey careers took shape. At Haryana Agricultural University ’s Giri Centre , coach Prof Azad Singh Malik nurtured both players, helping turn a promising goalkeeper and an aspiring youngster into international stars.




Savita, known as ‘ India’s Wall ’, played a key role in India’s Asian Games 2026 gold medal, making a crucial penalty-stroke save as the team ended a 44-year wait for the title. Deepika, known for her drag-flicks and attacking play, has made her mark with her goal-scoring record.




The coach and his former trainees recalled their journeys in Hisar on Tuesday, highlighting the guru-shishya bond that helped shape their careers. Both players credited Malik’s training and guidance at Giri Centre as the foundation of their success.




Both players were training under the Sports Authority of India (SAI), while Malik had no formal association with it. A coach at HAU’s sports college, which has since closed, Malik continued training SAI players out of his passion for hockey.




Deepika, from Bhainsru Khurd village in Rohtak, arrived at Giri Centre at six to learn wrestling with her brother. Her father Jagdish Seharawat was a laboratory technician at HAU and the family had a wrestling background. But Deepika was drawn to hockey. She would watch players from outside the wrestling hall until Malik asked if she wanted to play. She said yes, and her journey began. Deepika credits him with changing the course of her life.




Savita, from Jodhkalan village in Sirsa, also credits Malik for her success. In 2011, a bus conductor refused to let her board after seeing her hockey kit. Hurt, she told her father Mahendra Punia she wanted to quit. Instead, he bought her a second-hand WagonR so she could travel for training.




Deepika’s grandfather, Ranvir Singh, had always wanted to achieve something in sports but could not fulfil that ambition. He saw that dream in his granddaughter and frequently travelled from Bhainsru Kalan to Hisar to watch her play.




Malik recalled approaching then SAI assistant director Ajit Singh to introduce hockey at the centre when the SAI campus was located within HAU. Though several SAI coaches later joined, Malik continued training players, earning their trust through their talent and his dedication.