Indian women’s hockey team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne, who returned to the women’s program in December 2025 after four years, has highlighted the importance of fitness and team unity. Marijne stressed that the primary focus currently is on improving fitness levels and fostering a strong team bond to enhance performance. He mentioned that developing techniques would follow once the team achieves optimal fitness.
Looking ahead, the women’s team is gearing up for the FIH Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Hyderabad from March 8–14, in addition to focusing on the Asian Games 2026 and other major events leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle. Marijne, who guided the Indian women’s team to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has taken charge of the ongoing national coaching camp in Bengaluru.
The coaching camp, which began with 49 players comprising 43 seniors and six juniors, has been trimmed down to 29 participants after selection trials conducted by Hockey India. Marijne expressed the importance of individualized attention to each player to optimize their performance, especially since not all team members are familiar to him. He acknowledged the crucial role played by the strength and conditioning coaches in supporting the team’s development process.
Marijne emphasized the significance of managing the players’ fitness levels and bodies at present, stating that the tactical framework is already established. He emphasized that the collective goal and teamwork are paramount at this stage, underscoring his decision to rejoin the team for this purpose.
