PM Modi highlights India-Netherlands sports ties, hails contribution of Indian-origin players in Dutch cricket team
The Hague, May 16
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted the growing sporting ties between India and the Netherlands, noting the contribution of Indian-origin players to the Dutch cricket team and the role of Dutch coaches in shaping Indian hockey.
Addressing a community programme in The Hague as part of his five-nation tour, PM Modi said Netherlands performed well in the T20 World Cup, which was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka
He recalled the Netherlands team giving a tough fight to the Indian team, who won the T20 WC winners, in their group-stage match.
Netherlands secured one win in the 2026 T20 World Cup but the Scott Edwards-led side pushed both Pakistan and India in closely contested matches.
"Both countries are doing a lot in the field of sports together. India hosted the T20 World Cup, where the Netherlands delivered an impressive performance. India is the world champion, but the Netherlands gave India a tough fight in the match," PM Modi said.
He praised the contributions of Indian-origin players including Vikramjit Singh, Teja Nidamanuru and Aryan Dutt to Dutch cricket.
He said coach Sjoerd Marijne has played a significant role in Indian women's hockey.
"Netherlands performed well in the T20 Cricket World Cup in India... Just like Indians have a contribution in Netherlands cricket, the Netherlands contribute to Indian hockey. Coach Sjoerd Marijne has played a significant role in Indian women's hockey," he said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone from the US, I find it fascinating how India uses sports as a diplomatic bridge. PM Modi's emphasis on the Netherlands' competitive performance in the T20 World Cup shows genuine respect for opponents. The Indian-origin players like Aryan Dutt are excellent examples of a global Indian community, but it's the hockey connection that stands out to me. Very unique!
So nice to hear our PM talk about sports in a non-political way! I remember watching the T20 World Cup match between India and Netherlands – it was so tense, and the Dutch players really surprised everyone. And about hockey, Sjoerd Marijne's work with our women's team has been phenomenal. Sports truly connects people across borders. 😊
Interesting to see a world leader highlight cricket-hockey exchanges. I'm from Canada, and I see similar stories with the Indian diaspora playing for other countries. Still, it'd be nice if India did more to retain its hockey talent instead of relying on foreign coaches. No disrespect to Marijne, but I wonder why we can't produce our own world-class coaches? Just a thought. 🏑
Great move by PM Modi, but I wish he had also talked about how we can improve grassroots hockey in India. The Dutch have outstanding infrastructure – that's why they dominate hockey. While praising Indian-origin players abroad is nice, we should focus on why many Indian hockey players still struggle at home. Still, it's a positive gesture overall. 🇮🇳
What a refreshing perspective from PM Modi! I
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