Former India Women’s Hockey Team Chief Coach Neil Hawgood is all praises for the current team coached by Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne as acknowledges the growth in the team’s stature in recent years. Hawgood indulged in a wide-ranging conversation in his appearance as a guest on the latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, a podcast series initiated by Hockey India ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Speaking about how the team has progressed since his time as Chief Coach, Neil Hawgood said, “Sjoerd (Marijne) has done an amazing job in elevating the team’s level. The current team is mentally tougher than in previous years. Earlier, if the team conceded an early goal then it created a worrying situation that could lead to a heavy defeat. In a similar situation now, the team is calm and confident knowing that they can come back into any game. I am delighted to see that the team has kicked on and reached another level since my time.”
 
Australian Neil Hawgood was in charge of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team from 2012 to 2016 in two separate stints as the Chief Coach in this period. Under his guidance, the team qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics after a 36-year absence from the quadrennial event.