Lidewij Welten is a winner in every sense of the word. The FIH Women’s Player of the Year has enjoyed another tremendous season, despite her team perhaps not achieving all they would have wished for.

A win in the FINTRO Hockey World League Semi-Final was followed by a runners-up spot at the EuroHockey Championship and fifth place at the Argentina Hockey World League Final in Rosario. And even if the team weren’t winning, the silky-skilled midfielder still gathered fans wherever she played.

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Her winning mentality was best summed up by her response to finishing with a silver medal at the EuroHockey Championships: “We do not like to lose, this is a horrible feeling.” 

With Welten leading the charge, you can be pretty sure that the Netherlands will be ready to put recent defeats behind them and defend that Olympic title in Rio just seven months from now.

And there was no mistaking the Netherlands midfielder’s delight at winning this award: “Wooow! Big honour! Thanks everyone and especially my teammates, family and everyone who voted for me.”