In a significant development for Bharat hockey, Hockey Bharat announced the appointment of Herman Kruis as the new High Performance Director. The Netherlands native will be at the helm of the National Junior and Senior programs until September 2024. His responsibilities will extend to overseeing the Coaches Education Pathway and various other crucial tasks.
Kruis brings an impressive coaching background with over two decades of experience. Previously, he served as the Coach of the Indian Men and Junior Women’s Hockey Teams, focusing on their preparations for the prestigious FIH Men’s Junior World Cup and FIH Women’s Junior World Cup.
Notably, Kruis played a pivotal role as the Head Coach of Den Bosch ladies, a Netherlands-based club, guiding them to victory in the European Cup eight times consecutively. His coaching expertise also led him to be the National Head Coach for the Netherlands Indoor Women’s Hockey team from 2006 to 2008 and the Netherlands Outdoor team from 2008 to 2010.
In his recent role, Kruis served as the National Head Coach of the Belarus Indoor and Outdoor teams from 2016 to August 2023, showcasing his versatility in coaching across different nations. As a certified FIH Coach-Educator, his wealth of knowledge and experience is expected to make a significant impact on the Indian hockey landscape.
Expressing enthusiasm about the appointment, Hockey India President Padma Shri Dr. Dilip Tirkey stated, “Hockey India is delighted to appoint senior Coach Herman Kruis as the High Performance Director of Hockey India. He will oversee the various programs run by Hockey India, including the Junior and Senior programs.”
In response to his new role, Kruis expressed his excitement, saying, “I am looking forward to this new stint with Hockey India. The Indian teams are on the cusp of creating history, and I look forward to utilizing my expertise in helping the teams and Hockey India in achieving their goals for this year.”
The appointment of Herman Kruis is anticipated to bring a fresh perspective and strategic direction to Indian hockey, aiming for continued success on both national and international stages.
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