The Indian women's hockey team has received a major boost ahead of the FIH Nations Cup with the addition of Dutch hockey great Taeke Taekema to its coaching setup for a specialised dragflicking camp. The former Netherlands star has joined the squad during its ongoing tour of Australia and New Zealand, where he will work closely with players on penalty-corner execution and attacking efficiency.
The move reflects India's focus on improving one of the most decisive aspects of modern hockey as the team prepares for a crucial international assignment in New Zealand later this month.
Focus on improving penalty-corner efficiency
According to News 18, Taekema's primary responsibility will be helping India's dragflickers fine-tune their techniques and improve conversion rates from penalty corners. Players including Deepika, Lalthantluangi and Annu are participating in the dedicated training sessions designed to sharpen finishing skills in high-pressure situations.
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Penalty corners often prove to be match-defining moments in international hockey, and the Indian management believes specialist coaching can provide an important edge against top opponents.
Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said the team sees enormous value in Taekema's expertise, particularly given his reputation as one of the finest dragflickers the sport has produced.
One of hockey's greatest dragflickers
According to News 18, Taekema enjoyed a stellar international career with the Netherlands, earning more than 200 caps and scoring 221 goals. He became renowned for his powerful and accurate penalty-corner conversions and represented the Dutch national side at major tournaments, including the Olympic Games and Hockey World Cups.
His experience at the highest level is expected to benefit not only India's specialist dragflickers but also the team's broader tactical approach during defensive and attacking set-piece situations.
Marijne noted that Taekema's contribution will extend beyond dragflicking, with the Dutch legend also expected to assist in strengthening defensive structures and overall game management.
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Nations Cup preparations gather momentum
According to News 18, India heads into the FIH Nations Cup after completing a four-match friendly series against Australia in Perth. The series ended evenly at 2-2, with both teams securing two victories each.
The squad will travel to New Zealand on June 3 and continue preparations through a series of practice matches before the tournament begins on June 15 in Auckland.
Marijne expressed confidence in the squad's attacking options, highlighting the presence of established dragflickers and experienced striker Navneet Kaur. With Taekema's guidance, the team hopes to turn penalty corners into a more potent weapon and strengthen its chances of a successful Nations Cup campaign.
