A week-long goalkeeping camp under the watchful eyes of 1990 World Cup champion Simon Zijp of the Netherlands ahead of the just-concluded FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar played an important role in the Indian women team’s improved performance in the home leg of the tournament.
The camp, which featured goalkeepers Savita Punia, Bichu Devi Kharibam and Bansari Solanki, had focused on refining technical skills, game awareness, and mental conditioning.
Zijp has worked for the Netherlands men’s and women’s National teams, playing a pivotal role in their success on the global stage. He has served as the goalkeeper coach at the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 Olympics, where they secured the gold.
Speaking on the significance of the camp, Indian women’s hockey team chief coach Harendra Singh said, “It was a fantastic camp for all three goalkeepers. I think they progressed quite well, not just with some basics but around the finer details as well.
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“They focused a lot on how a goalkeeper thinks, what should be the mindset when the ball is in the circle and when it is at the other end of the pitch. I am grateful for Simon (Zijp) for taking the time for this camp and I hope this is the start of a long association with Indian goalkeepers.”
Former India captain and veteran goalkeeper Savita said that the camp helped them in fine tuning their game. “ This camp was a great opportunity for us to fine-tune our skills for the Pro League. Training under an experienced coach like Simon allowed us to make small but effective technical adjustments that can make a big difference in high-pressure situations.
“We focused a lot on refining our positioning, footwork, and stick control, which are crucial for making quick reflex saves. There was also a strong emphasis on stick positioning, ensuring that our hands are in the right place at all times to cover angles effectively. Additionally, we worked on reading the striker’s movements and reacting accordingly, which will help us in both open play and shootouts,” said Savita in a Hockey India release.
In the eight matches played in the home leg, India won three, including a shoot-out victory against reigning champions Netherlands, and lost five, including one in the shootout.
The Indian team is currently at the sixth spot in the FIH Pro League table with nine points from eight matches.
(With inputs from PTI)