Last October, seven members of Belgium’s “golden generation” ended their glorious international careers. Of these, only Tanguy Cosyns failed to win a European Championship, World Cup or Olympic gold medal.
Kossins missed the 2017 European Championships (Netherlands) and 2018 World Cup (Bhubaneswar) with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, as well as Belgium’s gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics. A 2019 video on his Instagram shows him logging miles on a treadmill in preparation for conditions in the Japanese capital.
He came close to leaving the team at the 2023 World Cup, with Belgium losing the final on penalties. Cousins’ missed penalty became the decisive moment in the shootout. He was once again overlooked for the Paris Games, his long-term dream of representing the Red Lions at the Summer Olympics dashed.
Belgium’s Kosins Tanguy ( Cosyns Tanguy celebrates after scoring. Photo Credit: KR DEEPAK / The Hindu
Belgium’s Kosins Tanguy ( Cosyns Tanguy celebrates after scoring. Photo Credit: KR DEEPAK / The Hindu
“I was not selected for the Paris Olympics and that led to my retirement,” said Cousins, who has made 180 appearances for Belgium over the past decade, scoring 80 goals.
“I cannot push myself again for the national team because it is really difficult. I want to continue enjoying my sport for many more years. In the national team, this is no longer possible because of the burden we bear as international players,” he explained sports star.
Now 33, Cosyns is looking for new meaning in his hockey career. After transitioning from forward to defender, he aims to extend his club career with Sporting Club in the Belgian Hockey League. He is also exploring coaching and new experiences such as playing in the Hockey India League (HIL).
Cosyns (aka “el Coze”) proved his quality on Tuesday night when his drag in the third period opened the scoring for his team UP Rudras, taking them to the top of the table.
Cosyns remains a strong drag flasher, a skill he continues to demonstrate in stock car racing. In addition to scoring as a striker, he also scored 80 goals for Belgium from penalty corners. One wonders how many more goals he would have scored had teammates Tom Boone and Alexander Hendricks not shared the load.
“It’s always a tough job, like being the second goalkeeper. But you have to raise the bar to improve the level of flashes. In a way, I guess I can say Alexander Hendrickx became very, very good at drag because I keep pushing myself, which forces him to work harder every day,” Cosyns reflected.
Originally from Brussels, Cossins is a third-generation hockey player from a family with a deep love for the game. His parents and grandparents were amateur level players. “So, my goal was to be a hockey player – not necessarily at the highest level – but I had that mentality from a young age and was really obsessed with the game. But it ended up coming out of nowhere. I took a chance. , I think you always need a little bit of luck to play at the highest level,” he said.
Setbacks are nothing new for Cosyns, but he has consistently made comebacks. After tearing his ACL in 2017, he started a clothing brand. During the 2020 epidemic, when the world came to a standstill, he used his time to focus on making hockey sticks. “I learned how to manage a website and things like that. My hockey brand was a project that my parents supported and now, two or four years later, it’s doing really well. I’m really happy,” he said.
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There is also a business angle to his trip to India. “We specialize in hockey sticks and that’s why I’m here too. I’ve had productive meetings with some Indian manufacturers who make good quality sticks. It’s a good idea for me to share knowledge and potentially have a relationship here in Europe Opportunities to make business connections,” says an optimistic Cosyns.
With a calm, pragmatic outlook on life, Cosyns doesn’t dwell on missed medals.
“It’s difficult because you want to be a part of it. But from my experience, I know I gave it my all. I have no regrets. Coaches have to make decisions; sometimes, it’s just a matter of preference.
“In sports, it’s very difficult to win everything. I learned to enjoy the process rather than the results. If you only focus on the results, it’s difficult to truly enjoy your sport. From my perspective now, I think for our generation I am proud of what has been achieved and of my personal contribution to the team and myself,” he concluded with a smile.
