India, March 19 -- Sjoerd Marijne relaxed into a chair, chuckled occasionally, and discussed how he enjoys playing padel - his "secret" to maintaining fitness and his "young looks".

The Indian women's hockey team chief coach also detailed how he enjoys riding his two-wheeler through Bengaluru traffic, enjoying the whiff of the cool breeze along with the smell of coffee while passing many cafes.

The Dutchman can afford to be relaxed, especially after achieving his first target: helping India qualify for the World Cup.

Returning for his second stint with the team after a five-year gap, the 51-year-old had roughly two months to prepare the team for last week's qualifiers in Hyderabad. It was the final opportunity for the Salima Tete-led o...