I do a lot of strength training, put some extra time in my penalty corner: Yibbi Jansen

Yibbi Jansen, who was named FIH Woman Player of the Year, was recently acquired by the Odisha Warriors in the auction of the inaugural Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) for Rs 29 lakh which made her the second costliest woman player.

“I'm very happy and proud to be named the FIH Player of the Year for 2024 but in the end it's a team sport. We achieved our goal, and my biggest dream last summer was yeah winning the Olympic gold. And then winning the Player of the Year Award after such a good summer is very special,” Yibbi commented.  

“There goes a lot of work behind the scenes; I do a lot of strength training, hockey training and I put some extra time in my penalty corner. So yeah, it takes a lot of time, but it is something I love so it doesn't feel like work,” she added.

Known for her fierce drag flicks, the 24-year-old scored crucial goals during the Olympics, most notably the equaliser in the gold medal match with less than 10 minutes remaining, ultimately helping her team secure the top spot on the podium.

“I have learned a lot from players who are older than me. It's always nice to look at each other and take some skills they have into your own, into your own play. I think we can learn a lot from each other during the HIL because we play with players from different nationalities and every country has a different type of play. And training with other drag flickers will be fun as well,” she added.

Since making her debut for the Dutch Women’s Hockey Team in 2018 against the United States, Yibbi has amassed 82 caps and scored an astounding 71 goals in the orange jersey. As one of the leading midfielders and drag flickers in international hockey, Yibbi is set to be a cornerstone for the Odisha Warriors in the upcoming HIL season.

Tags :