Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Marijne defends pre-World Cup leave after India’s fifth-place finish
Sjoerd Marijne coaches India’s women’s hockey team.
Some media reports questioned his decision to take leave before the World Cup.
Marijne said he still followed the team’s training, matches and meetings while away.
He also said his coaching staff helped prepare the players.
India finished fifth, which he called progress but not the final goal.
He wants the players to keep working hard and improving.
He said the team needed to focus on working together instead of individual players.
He also hopes the team’s success will encourage more children to play hockey.
Sjoerd Marijne said his pre-World Cup leave did not compromise India’s preparations.
He said he watched every training session and match and remained in contact with players.
India finished fifth at the World Cup after recovering from an injury-hit period.
Marijne said rebuilding team identity, discipline and a collective mindset were immediate priorities.
He hopes the team’s performance will inspire more young people to play hockey.
- Who
- Sjoerd Marijne and the India women’s hockey team.
- What
- Marijne defended his pre-World Cup leave and discussed India’s fifth-place finish and future development.
- When
- The comments were reported on August 28 after India’s World Cup campaign.
- Where
- Amstelveen.
- Why
- Marijne said he wanted to clarify that his leave did not affect the team’s preparation.
Media scrutiny
Marijne’s defense
Effect of pre-World Cup leave
Media scrutiny
A section of the media questioned whether Marijne’s leave could have affected India’s preparations.
Marijne’s defense
Marijne said the leave did not compromise preparations because he monitored training and matches, attended meetings and stayed in contact with players.
Meaning of fifth place
Media scrutiny
India’s fifth-place finish could be viewed as a result to assess rather than an endpoint.
Marijne’s defense
Marijne called the showing a creditable achievement but urged the team to remain hungry, raise standards and continue improving.
- Coach
- Sjoerd Marijne, chief coach of India’s women’s hockey team.
- Tournament result
- India finished fifth at the World Cup.
- Leave controversy
- Marijne’s decision to take leave before the World Cup was questioned by part of the media.
- Preparation
- Marijne said he attended every training session and match, held meetings and maintained personal contact with players.
- Second stint
- Marijne returned to coach India in January for his second stint.
- Team priorities
- He focused on rebuilding team identity, restoring discipline and replacing an individual mindset with a collective one.
- Future development
- Marijne backed the Women’s Hockey India League as a way for players to gain confidence against international stars.