Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, June 27: Tushar Khandker, a former captain, was named head coach of the junior women’s national team by Hockey India on Tuesday. The team is currently training for the World Cup, which will take place in Santiago from November 29 to December 10.
Harvinder Singh, the temporary coach appointed when Eric Wonink resigned in January, was succeeded by Khandker.
Since Janneke Schopman, the women’s chief coach who oversees both the senior and junior sides, is preoccupied with Asian Games training, Khandker has been named head coach of the junior team.
Khandker’s credentials are supported by a successful international hockey career, but during the past ten years, he has built a strong coaching portfolio.
“I have always been inclined towards coaching after my playing career. Over the years, I have worked under some renowned coaches in world hockey and have learnt a lot working with them,” Khandker was quoted as saying in a press release.
“I look forward to using my knowledge of the sport to help these young and talented players to elevate their performance in international hockey,” he said.
He served as the Indian men’s team’s coach between 2014 and 2016, and during that time, the squad achieved many victories, including a historic silver medal at the Champions Trophy in London in 2016, a gold medal at the Asian Champions Trophy and a bronze medal in the World Hockey League in Raipur in 2015.
He was also a member of the team’s coaching staff for the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.
Along with completing Hockey India’s Coaches Education Pathway Level Basic, Level 1 and Level 2 courses, Khandker has also just completed the FIH Level 1 course.
“Tushar brings with him decades of experience in hockey both as a player as well as a coach and he will also be a great role model for the young players in the junior Core Group,” Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said.
