SG Pipers Head Coach Sofie Gierts has expressed her admiration for the quality and fearlessness of the young Indian players in her squad, describing their natural ability and mindset as a major positive in the team’s early preparations. Reflecting on the first few days of training, Sofie highlighted the confidence and instinctive play of rising talents such as Ishika and Sunelita Toppo, noting how quickly they have stood out with their expressive style on the field.nSofie said the players, “play without fear. The technique is there, the instincts are there, and most importantly, they are not afraid to try things. That is something very special.”
A former Belgian international who represented her country for more than a decade and one of the few women to have coached a men’s team at the elite level, Sofie believes Indian players bring a distinct identity to the game. She explained that “there is a spontaneity and creativity in their hockey. You don’t want to take that away. You want to add structure around it so they can repeat those actions consistently at the highest level.”