Peter Haberl, with experience in US water polo, rugby, and USA hockey, is set to join the team’s coaching staff. The decision to bring in a mental trainer became even more pronounced following the Asian Games semifinal defeat to China, as mentioned by Schopman.
The Indian women’s hockey team, while competing at the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Ranchi, is set to welcome Peter Haberl as their mental conditioning coach. Chief coach Janneke Schopman confirmed his arrival during the tournament, which serves as a rare standalone multi-nation event for the women in front of their home fans. Following their bronze medal finish at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, where they narrowly missed out on gold and an automatic qualification spot for Paris 2024, the team faces critical months ahead to secure their ticket to the prestigious event.
“After our victory against Thailand in our first tournament match, I spoke with Peter Haberl, a sports psychologist originally from Austria but residing in the USA, whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with for an extended period,” Schopman shared with The Indian Express. Having previously collaborated during her time with the USA hockey team before joining India, Schopman aims to leverage Haberl’s expertise as the team prepares for the upcoming Olympic qualifiers in Ranchi in January.
“He is widely recognized in the realm of female team sports. Peter has lent his expertise to US water polo, US rugby, and also collaborated with me during my time with the USA hockey team,” Schopman stated. “He places a significant emphasis on mindfulness, and I’m immensely grateful to Hockey India for facilitating his presence. With the Olympic qualifiers scheduled for Ranchi, it’s crucial for him to be here to observe the dynamics of the games and facilitate our individual and team growth. Over the next few days, his objective is to absorb as much information as possible to guide our next steps. The plan is for him to remain here…”
“A few instances are akin to having a mental coach, as seen with Paddy Upton’s involvement with the men’s team, where they bring in such specialists as needed,” Schopman explained. “It’s a comparable arrangement.”
Upton became a part of Craig Fulton’s coaching team when the men’s team clinched gold in Hangzhou and secured their Olympic qualification. Schopman had previously expressed her desire for a similar level of support in an interview with The Indian Express.
“I had requested for support as well, but regrettably, it didn’t come to fruition,” Schopman stated in Delhi following the team’s return from Hangzhou. “I’ve come to understand that my assistance has its limitations,” the 46-year-old coach added.
“That moment after the semifinal was perhaps an eye-opener, not just for the players but also for me. Regrettably, we couldn’t arrange it before the tournament. The federation is well aware of the situation and has been highly supportive. I had suggested its benefits from the beginning of the year. I hope they recognize, as they did with the men’s team, that it can make a significant difference,” Schopman explained.
Schopman also highlighted that during the first half against Thailand, her players experienced nerves due to the significance of playing at home. However, they demonstrated their potential in the second half by exhibiting better control. India secured a 7-1 victory in the opening match and are set to face Malaysia in their second match on Saturday. The team anticipates more challenging encounters against China, Japan, and Korea, all of which are potential contenders for the title in Ranchi.
