Indian women’s hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne stresses on fitness and team cohesion looking ahead towards Asian Games 2026

When Sjoerd Marijne returned to the Indian women’s hockey programme in December 2025, it was not nostalgia that guided the Dutchman back, but a clear sense of unfinished business.

The architect of India’s historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has re-entered the fold at a crucial juncture in the Los Angeles 2028 cycle, and his blueprint for the next two years is already taking shape one built on fitness, cohesion, and collective accountability.

With major tournaments lined up, including the FIH Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Hyderabad this March and the Asian Games 2026 later in the year, Marijne has wasted no time in setting the tone. His immediate priority is not tactical complexity or structural overhauls, but something more fundamental: the physical and mental readiness of his players.

The Indian women’s team has been in an intensive national coaching camp at the Sports Authority of India’s Bengaluru centre since mid-January, with Marijne overseeing every aspect of the programme. The camp, which initially featured 49 players 43 seniors and six juniors was pruned down to a core group of 29 after trials conducted by Hockey India. That trimming process, Marijne insists, was not about exclusion, but about clarity.

At this stage of the Olympic cycle, he believes, the team must begin to form a genuine identity. “We are still getting to know each other,” Marijne has explained. While he worked with several of the current players during his first stint, the squad has evolved significantly in the four years he was away. Younger players have entered the system, senior figures have grown into leadership roles, and expectations around the women’s team are higher than ever.

Rather than rushing into system-based changes, Marijne is placing heavy emphasis on understanding individuals — how each player moves, recovers, handles workload, and reacts under pressure. This is where fitness becomes not just a physical requirement but a strategic foundation.

Modern international hockey demands relentless intensity. The top teams in the world now play at a pace where a drop in conditioning, even for a few minutes, can decide matches. For Marijne, India cannot afford to be second-best in that department if it wants to challenge nations like the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, and Argentina.

This focus is reflected in how the camp is being structured. Strength and conditioning coaches have been given a central role in the programme, with workload management, recovery protocols, and individual fitness benchmarks all closely monitored. The idea is to build players who can not only survive the demands of elite tournaments, but thrive in them.

Yet, fitness is only half of Marijne’s vision. The other pillar is team cohesion something he considers just as critical to long-term success.

The Indian women’s team that dazzled the world in Tokyo was not just technically proficient; it was emotionally connected. Players trusted one another, communicated instinctively, and shared responsibility under pressure. Recreating that chemistry is now a central objective.

Marijne has made it clear that he wants a squad that functions as a unit rather than a collection of individuals. In his framework, roles are defined, but they are also fluid. Every player must understand not only what she brings to the team, but how her actions influence others.

This philosophy has guided how the current camp is being run. Training sessions are not just about drills and match simulations; they are about interaction, feedback, and shared problem-solving. Players are encouraged to communicate openly with coaches and teammates, creating an environment where learning is collective rather than hierarchical.

The timing of Marijne’s return is particularly significant. The FIH Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14 will be India’s first major test of 2026. Beyond that, the Asian Games one of the most important stepping stones in the LA 2028 cycle loom large. Performances in these tournaments will shape India’s global standing and influence Olympic qualification pathways.

Marijne is acutely aware that there is little room for gradualism at this level. The international calendar moves fast, and so must India’s development curve. But rather than trying to fast-track tactical sophistication, he is building from the ground up. The tactical framework, he has pointed out, is already clear. What will make the difference is whether players can execute it at full intensity for 60 minutes, across multiple matches, in high-pressure environments. That is where fitness and cohesion intersect.

A fit team can press, recover, and counter relentlessly. A cohesive team can do it together.

For Marijne, these two elements are inseparable. A team that is physically dominant but emotionally disconnected will fracture under stress. A united team without the fitness to sustain its style will simply fall short. This holistic approach is why he chose to return. The opportunity to shape not just a squad, but a culture, was too compelling to ignore.

As the camp in Bengaluru continues and the countdown to Hyderabad begins, Indian women’s hockey is quietly entering a new phase one defined less by promises and more by preparation. Under Sjoerd Marijne, the message is unmistakable: before chasing medals, India must first build a team that is strong enough, together enough, and resilient enough to earn them.