Field Hockey

India Ropes in Dutch Legend Taeke Taekema to Boost Women’s Hockey Drag-Flicking Skills

India’s women’s hockey team has brought in Dutch drag-flick legend Taeke Taekema on a short-term basis, aiming to sharpen its penalty-corner efficiency ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

Taekema, known for his deadly accuracy and powerful drag-flicks, scored an astonishing 170 goals in just 94 appearances for the Netherlands, cementing his legacy as one of the finest drag-flickers the sport has ever seen.  

Taekema’s first engagement with the Indian team came during a seven-day special camp held from February 10 to 16 in Bhubaneswar, right before India’s FIH Pro League matches. During the camp, he worked closely with players including Deepika, Manisha Chauhan, Sonam, Annu, and several promising junior players. The focus was on refining techniques, improving accuracy, and adding more variations to their drag-flicking arsenal.  

Indian women’s team chief coach Harendra Singh, who was instrumental in bringing Taekema on board, was highly appreciative of the initial results. “Taeke is one of the greatest legends in drag-flicking, and I requested Hockey India to involve him to help us improve this specialised area,” Harendra said. 

“Drag-flicking is a crucial skill in modern hockey, and we need to ensure our players can execute it consistently under pressure. Taeke will continue to work with us in future camps as well.”  

While Harendra acknowledged visible improvement in Deepika’s performances during the recent Pro League matches, he also pointed out that penalty-corner conversions depend on seamless coordination between the injector, stopper, and drag-flicker — an area where India faced some difficulties. 

“We’ve seen definite progress with Deepika, particularly during the recent Pro League matches. However, successful penalty-corner execution is a three-step process. We faced challenges with the injection and stopping in some matches, which hurt our conversion rates. But Deepika’s tactical understanding and execution are improving game by game.”  

The long-term goal, Harendra emphasised, is to develop Deepika and Manisha into world-class drag-flickers capable of consistently delivering in high-pressure situations. Penalty corners play a vital role in modern hockey, and India’s ability to capitalise on them will be crucial for their success at the 2028 Olympics and beyond.  

Deepika herself credited Taekema’s mentorship for her recent improvement. “He was excellent in guiding us, and we started noticing improvements under his mentorship,” she said. 

With Taekema’s expertise and ongoing support, India hopes to transform its drag-flicking unit into a potent weapon, capable of challenging the best in the world.  

About the Author


Written by DafaNews

DafaNews brings you the most highlighted news in the world of Sports. It serves you up-to-date matches, scores, live streams, fantasy games and quizzes. Our news covers India's prestigious leagues and events – Premier League, Pro Kabbadi League, Cricket World Cup and many more. Follow DafaNews on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,Telegram and Youtube for more updates.

Related Post
Share
Published by
DafaNews

Recent Posts

India Suffers 4-1 Defeat to Denmark in Sudirman Cup 2025 Opener

India's Sudirman Cup 2025 campaign got off to a disappointing start with a 4-1 loss… Read More

April 28, 2025

Kevin Pietersen Backs KL Rahul for T20 World Cup 2026, Advocates Middle-Order Role

Former England captain and Delhi Capitals (DC) mentor Kevin Pietersen has thrown his support behind… Read More

April 28, 2025

Jamshedpur FC Edge NorthEast United in Thrilling Penalty Shootout to Reach Super Cup Semifinals

Jamshedpur FC (JFC) held their nerve to overcome NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) 5-4 in a… Read More

April 28, 2025

Honours for Kohli and Hazelwood as RCB go top of the IPL table

A dominant season continued for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Delhi last night, where they beat… Read More

April 28, 2025

IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans – Match Preview

Rajasthan Royals will lock horns against a high-flying Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Man Singh… Read More

April 28, 2025

IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans – Stats Preview

Rajasthan Royals will square off against Gujarat Titans in the 47th match of the ongoing… Read More

April 28, 2025