Junior Women’s Hockey Team | Tushar Khandekar appointed coach of junior women’s hockey team

New Delhi: Former India captain Tushar Khandekar was on Tuesday appointed as the head coach of the junior women’s hockey team. The Indian team is preparing for the Junior World Cup to be held in Santiago, Chile from November 29 to December 10. He will replace Harvinder Singh, who was appointed coach of the team on an interim basis in January this year after Eric Wollink stepped down. Women’s head coach Yanek Schoepman is entrusted with the responsibility of the junior and senior teams as per Hockey India’s contract but the former Netherlands player is busy preparing for the Asian Games and hence Khandekar has been appointed as the head coach of the junior team. read this also Khandekar, who has achieved many successes in international hockey as a player, has also proved himself in coaching in the last decade. In a release issued here, Khandekar said, “After my playing career, I have always been inclined towards coaching. Over the years, I have worked under many renowned coaches of world hockey and have learned a lot from them.” He said, “I am looking forward to sharing the knowledge of the game with these young and talented players. It will be helpful in improving their performance in international hockey.” He was the coach of the Indian team from 2014 to 2016. Under his stewardship the team has tasted many successes including a historic Silver Medal in Champions Trophy 2016 in London, Gold in Asian Champions Trophy, Bronze in World Hockey League 2015 (Raipur). He was also part of the team’s coaching staff for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. In recent years, Khandekar has completed the FIH (International Hockey Council) ‘Level 1’ course in addition to Hockey India’s ‘Coach Education Pathway’ ‘Level Basic’, ‘Level 1’ and ‘Level 2’. On his appointment, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said, “Tushar brings with him decades of experience in hockey, both as a player and coach. He will also be a great role model for the young players in the junior core group.” (agency)