Members of the Indian women's hockey team's drag-flicking unit have credited a specialised training camp led by Dutch legend Taeke Taekema as a pivotal factor in their penalty-corner dominance during the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup 2025-26, which India won in New Zealand. The camp, which began during a preparatory tour of Australia in May 2025, continued through the squad's time in New Zealand under head coach Sjoerd Marijne.

The Numbers Behind the Title

India's drag-flicking unit converted 13 goals from penalty corners across the Nations Cup campaign — a haul that underlines just how transformative the camp's impact was. Deepika emerged as the tournament's joint-top scorer with six goals, every one of them dispatched from a penalty corner, making her the standout beneficiary of Taekema's coaching.

What the Camp Covered

The training went well beyond on-pitch repetition. According to Deepika, the sessions incorporated detailed video analysis of opposition defensive structures and goalkeeper positioning. 'The drag-flicking camp this time was a lot more detailed. We just didn't work on the pitch, but also spent time watching videos of other teams to see how their defensive structure is, how the goalkeeper is positioned, and more details,' she said. She added that Taekema reinforced the importance of composure: 'He also made me realise the importance of staying calm and focused in pressure situations — to execute my skills to the best of my abilities. The result is not always in our control, but we need to stick to our process and routines, even when things aren't going our way.'

A Beginner's Breakthrough

Lalthantluangi, who is still developing her drag-flicking technique, described the camp as a rigorous but rewarding experience. 'As a beginner, it has been a fantastic challenge. Coordinated movements — like body rotation and balance — rather than just using muscle, and for me, the important part is the pick-up point,' she said. She credited Taekema's patience for enabling her to work through technical difficulties methodically: 'His calm helped me when I was struggling with my technique, allowing me to process and improve steadily.'

Confidence Built in the Camp, Delivered on the Field

Annu highlighted the psychological dividend the camp provided heading into the high-stakes tournament. 'Training under someone with Taeke's experience gave me a lot of confidence going into a tournament as big as the Nations Cup. It helped me trust my technique more and stay composed under pressure during crucial moments,' she said. For all three players, the Nations Cup title validated the hours invested in those preparatory sessions.

Taekema's Role in Indian Hockey

Taekema is widely regarded as one of the finest drag-flickers in the history of world hockey, and his association with the Indian women's team marks a notable investment in specialist coaching. His involvement — first during the Australia tour and then through the New Zealand campaign — reflects a broader push by the Indian setup to bring world-class technical expertise directly into the training environment. With the squad now holding a Nations Cup title, the template may well be repeated ahead of future marquee events.