Bengaluru: Indian women`s hockey team coach, Sjoerd Marijne, is beaming with joy as two players from the team are set to be recognised with the National Awards this year.


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While Rani Rampal becomes the first Indian Women`s Hockey player to be honoured with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the country`s highest award for a sports person, former Indian defender Deepika will receive the Arjuna Award this year.


"I am happy for Rani and Deepika. I am also happy for the team because only one player can get the award but we all know it is a team achievement and I am very pleased to see that Women`s hockey is getting this recognition for their efforts and hard work," Marijne said in a statement.


Having completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine period, Marijne said the core group is now doing very basic activities.


"It has been good to start again with everyone slowly coming out of the quarantine and I am relieved everyone is healthy and have taken care of themselves during this period. For me personally, it feels nice to do what I love the most. That gives me the energy," said Marijne, who was also in 14-day quarantine after returning from the Netherlands earlier this month following a six-week break from the National Coaching Camp.


Elaborating on the core group`s daily routine, Marijne said, "We are going about these sports activities keeping in mind the Standard Operating Procedures provided by SAI and Hockey India. I am just glad the team is being able to run on the pitch again after almost 5 months and start with very basic skills."