The strategic inclusion of Taekema has been made to significantly enhance the team’s conversion rate from penalty corners as India prepares for the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup New Zealand 2025–26, scheduled from 15 to 21 June 2026. The team is being guided under Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne.
Indian drag flickers Deepika, Lalthantluangi, and Annu are actively participating in these high-intensity focused sessions, which aim to strengthen India’s attacking efficiency and improve execution under pressure ahead of a crucial international season.
Taeke Taekema, widely regarded as one of the greatest drag flick specialists in world hockey history, represented the Netherlands at the international level and earned over 200 appearances along with 221 international goals. His career includes participation in multiple Olympic Games and FIH Hockey World Cups, where he was known for his powerful and precise penalty-corner conversions.
The development initiative is supported by Anandana, the Coca-Cola India Foundation, which continues its contribution toward the growth of women’s hockey in India. The same foundation also supported a specialised goalkeeping training camp conducted by renowned coach David Williamson in Bengaluru prior to the team’s departure for Australia.
As part of their preparations, the Indian team played a four-match friendly series against Australia at the Perth Hockey Stadium from 26 to 30 May 2026. Both teams secured two victories each, resulting in a 2–2 series draw that highlighted the competitive balance between the sides.
The Indian squad is scheduled to arrive in New Zealand on 3 June, where they will continue their preparation with additional practice matches ahead of the FIH Women’s Nations Cup.
Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne emphasised the importance of the specialised training, stating that penalty corners remain a decisive factor in modern hockey and that Taeke Taekema’s expertise would be highly valuable for the squad. He added that Taekema’s role extends beyond drag flicking, including contributions to defensive structure improvement.
Marijne further noted that the coaching staff shares a strong alignment in approach with Taekema and highlighted his extensive international playing experience as a key asset for the team. He also stated that India already possesses strong drag flicking options, including Navneet Kaur, and stressed the importance of maximizing penalty-corner opportunities to enhance match outcomes.
The integration of world-class expertise into India’s women’s hockey preparation underscores a focused push toward technical refinement and competitive sharpness as the team enters a decisive international phase.
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