Sofie Gierts.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Sofie Gierts has been around hockey for a long time. A former Belgian star with more than 100 international caps, a rare female head coach in the competitive world of men’s hockey with Belgium’s top-tier Royal Uccle, assistant with the Mannheimer HC women’s squad in Germany and founder of the Antwerp Diamonds FC, a girls-only football club, Gierts wears multiple hats. And she is game for more, joining Delhi SG Pipers as the chief coach for their women’s team in the Hockey India League. The 46-year old spoke to The Hindu about her plans and her views on Indian hockey. Excerpts: What brings you to the Hockey India League, how did it happen? I’ve been following the HIL since it existed the first time around. It was a big thing in hockey, Tom Boon was drafted for $80,000 or something, it was a big thing. I thought it was a great idea to boost the game in India and I always had it at the back of my mind that we should do it for women as well. We offered the idea to the FIH but that again is difficult. And when they launched it for women last year, I wanted to be a part of that.
Published: December 29, 2025 5:44 pm
Source: The Hindu — Read original