New Delhi (IANS). Hockey India on Tuesday appointed former captain Tushar Khandekar as the new coach of the junior women’s team. Her appointment is a big achievement for the junior women’s team which is preparing for the FIH Women’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2023 to be held in Santiago, Chile. The World Cup will be played from 29 November to 10 December.
While Khandekar’s credentials are backed by an illustrious career in international hockey, he has over the past decade developed a strong portfolio in coaching. Between 2014 and 2016, he was part of the Indian men’s team as coach and has tasted many achievements including a silver medal at the historic Champions Trophy 2016 in London, gold at the Asian Champions Trophy, bronze at the World Hockey League 2015. He was also part of the team’s coaching staff for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
In her recent stint as deputy to head coach Janek Schoepmann for the women’s team, Khandekar helped the team prepare for the Asian Champions Trophy 2021 in South Korea, she also played the 2022 Asia Cup, Oman, where the team won Won the bronze medal and also qualified for the World Cup. She was also a part of the women’s team’s support staff for the FIH Pro League 2021-22 season before that. In recent years, Khandekar has done Hockey India’s Coach Education Pathway Level Basic, Level 1 and Level 2 as well as FIH Level 1 course.
Welcoming Tushar Khandekar to the national program of the junior team, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said, “It is always good to have former Indian team players returning to the system as coaches. Tushar has been in hockey for decades as a player. As a coach, he will also be a great role model for the younger players in the junior core group. His appointment comes at the right time, as the team prepares for the FIH Women’s Junior World Cup 2023 in Santiago I thank SAI for their support in appointing Tushar Khandkar in this new role and I also wish Tushar all the best in this new endeavour.”
On reaching SAI, Bengaluru, where the Junior Women’s Core Probable Group is located, an excited Khandekar said, “I am grateful to Hockey India for giving me this responsibility. I have always been inclined towards coaching after my playing career. Over the years, I have worked under some of the renowned coaches in world hockey and have learned a lot working with them. I look forward to using my knowledge of the game to help these young and talented players enhance their performance in international hockey. looking forward to doing.”
