New Delhi: After former coach Harendra Singh stepped down, new Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed relief as the Indian women’s hockey team qualified for the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 by finishing second at the qualifiers in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Speaking about the World Cup draw, Marijne highlighted India’s challenging Pool D, which features top-seeded England Women’s Hockey Team, experienced China Women’s Hockey Team, and South Africa Women’s Hockey Team. “Our pool has teams with very different playing styles. China and England bring experience, while South Africa can be unpredictable on their day. The key for us is not the draw but how we play,” Marijne said. “In every match at the World Cup, we have to show our best performance. We respect every opponent, but our focus is on playing our style of hockey with consistency and resilience.”
India had recently lost 0-2 to England in the qualifiers final but still emerged as the tournament’s second-highest scoring team, netting 11 goals—including six from penalty corners. Marijne emphasized continuous improvement: “I have told the team to keep enhancing their game while staying composed. We aim to be a resilient team that can adapt to any situation. Qualifying for the World Cup was an important step, but our ambitions go beyond that.”
Looking ahead, the team has several preparatory tours and matches lined up, including tours to the United States and Argentina, participation in the Nations Cup in New Zealand, and practice matches in Germany and the Netherlands. These matches, along with training camps, will provide a strong platform to prepare the team for the World Cup and upcoming Asian Games.
Marijne concluded, “We have taken the first step in the right direction. To succeed on the global stage, we must continue to work hard, refine our skills, and bring our best game to every match.”
