Legendary Dutch dragflicker Taeke Taekema has joined the senior Indian women's hockey team for a specialised training camp focusing on dragflicking and penalty-corner skills, as the side continues its tour of Australia and New Zealand from 26 May to 21 June 2026. The appointment is aimed squarely at sharpening India's penalty-corner conversions ahead of the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup New Zealand 2025-26, scheduled for 15-21 June 2026.

Who Is Taeke Taekema

Taekema is widely regarded as one of the greatest dragflickers in world hockey history. The former Netherlands international amassed over 200 caps and scored 221 international goals, competing at the Olympic Games and multiple FIH Hockey World Cups. His appointment brings elite-level technical knowledge directly into the Indian camp at a critical juncture in the international calendar.

What the Camp Covers

Indian dragflickers Deepika, Lalthantluangi, and Annu are undertaking targeted sessions designed to improve penalty-corner execution and overall attacking output. Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne, who previously coached Taekema, confirmed that the Dutchman's role extends beyond dragflicking. Marijne said Taekema will also help improve India's defensive structures, describing his broader contribution as equally important.

'We know that penalty corners are crucial in modern hockey and having a coach with Taeke Taekema's experience will be extremely valuable for us. Besides dragflicking, his role will also be much broader in helping improve our defensive structures,' Marijne said. He added: 'We already have good dragflickers in the squad and also a strong striking option in Navneet Kaur. It is crucial for us to get more out of our penalty-corner opportunities, and this camp will definitely help us improve in that area.'

Australia Tour Results

In the lead-up to the FIH Women's Nations Cup in Auckland, India played a four-match friendly series against Australia at Perth Hockey Stadium from 26-30 May 2026. Both sides won two matches each, ending the series in a 2-2 draw. The Indian squad is set to arrive in New Zealand on 3 June for further training and practice matches ahead of the tournament.

Anandana's Role in the Initiative

Anandana, the Coca-Cola India Foundation, is backing the initiative as part of its broader support for women's hockey development in India. The foundation also sponsored a separate goalkeeping camp in Bengaluru, led by coach David Williamson, before the team's departure for Australia. The dual investment in specialist coaching underlines a structured build-up to the Nations Cup.

With the tournament just weeks away, India's focus on set-piece efficiency could prove decisive — penalty corners have been a defining factor in recent FIH competitions, and Taekema's presence signals a deliberate tactical upgrade.