Take worked with the Indian Women\u2019s Hockey Team to refine their penalty corner conversion abilities during a specialised dragflicking camp organised from February 10 to 16 in Bhubaneswar. The camp was held ahead of the recently concluded home leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25, where India competed against top teams, including England, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Taekema, who netted 170 goals in 94 appearances for the Netherlands Men\u2019s Hockey Team over 11 years, is widely regarded as one of the world\u2019s most feared penalty corner specialists. His illustrious career includes being the top scorer in numerous major international tournaments, including the 2002 and 2006 Men\u2019s Champions Trophy, 2006 Men\u2019s World Cup, 2008 Olympic Games, and 2010 FIH World Cup. He also served as the assistant coach for the China Women\u2019s Hockey Team from 2022 to 2024.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Senior players, including Deepika, Manisha Chauhan, Sonam, and Annu, along with few junior players, participated in the camp. The focus was on honing technical skills and improving drag-flick accuracy under Taekema\u2019s expert guidance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Deepika, who netted two out of her three goals through penalty corners during the home leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25, reflected on the camp\u2019s positive impact and said, \u201cAlthough it was just a week-long camp, it proved to be highly beneficial for the home leg of the FIH Pro League. I focused on refining my footwork, shot release, and finishing, which gave me a clear understanding of the technical adjustments I needed to make during the tournament for dragflicking.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cDuring the week-long camp, we concentrated on key technical areas like body positioning and stepping based on the type of shot we wanted to execute. This focus made a significant difference. Overall, it was an enriching experience. Taekema was excellent in guiding us, and we started noticing improvements under his mentorship. He also shared his own experiences as a player, which helped us build mental resilience,\u201d she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, Indian Women\u2019s Hockey Team Chief Coach Harendra Singh expressed his excitement about having Taeke Taekema on board to assist the team with penalty corner execution.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He stated, \u201cTaeke is one of the greatest legends in dragflicking, and I requested Hockey India to bring him in to help us improve in this area. He has been working with the team on refining technique and ensuring a smoother dragflicking process. Dragflicking is a highly specialised skill, and Taeke will continue to work with us in future camps as well.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Singh also acknowledged the visible improvements in Deepika\u2019s performance. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen definite progress with Deepika, particularly during the recent Pro League matches. However, successful penalty corner conversions rely on three key components: the injector, stopper, and dragflicker. Unfortunately, we faced some challenges with the injection and stopping during some matches, which affected our conversion rate. That said, Deepika\u2019s tactical approach is improving with each game.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He stated, \u201cTaeke is one of the greatest legends in dragflicking, and I requested Hockey India to bring him in to help us improve in this area. He has been working with the team on refining technique and ensuring a smoother dragflicking process. Dragflicking is a highly specialised skill, and Taeke will continue to work with us in future camps as well.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Highest tax paying cricketers<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n