The trajectory of the Indian women’s hockey team since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, held in 2021, has been one of sharp highs, deep uncertainty, and repeated structural resets.
What began as a historic breakthrough a fourth-place finish that redefined global perceptions of Indian women’s hockey soon evolved into a five-year period marked by coaching upheavals, administrative instability, and contrasting tactical philosophies. The return of Sjoerd Marijne in January 2026 closes a complex loop and offers a revealing case study of how high-performance sport is shaped as much by governance and athlete trust as by tactics on the pitch .
India’s fourth-place finish at Tokyo was transformative. Under Marijne’s first tenure, the team shed its underdog tag, pushing eventual bronze medallists Great Britain to the brink in a dramatic playoff. Yet, just as expectations surged, Marijne stepped down in August 2021, citing personal reasons. His departure created a leadership vacuum at a moment when continuity was crucial. Hockey India’s challenge was no longer about ambition, but about preserving momentum.
To ensure stability, Janneke Schopman was promoted from analytical coach to chief coach later in 2021. Her appointment was historic she became the first woman to lead an Indian national hockey team and symbolised a shift towards a modern, European-influenced playing philosophy. Schopman introduced a proactive, possession-based Dutch system, encouraging higher tempo, structured build-up, and mental conditioning through mindfulness. Results followed, at least initially. India won bronze at the 2022 Asia Cup and Commonwealth Games, lifted the FIH Nations Cup to earn Pro League promotion, and dominated continental competitions like the Asian Champions Trophy.
Equally significant was Schopman’s emphasis on youth integration. Players such as Sangita Kumari, Beauty Dungdung, Deepika Kumari, Mumtaz Khan, and Ishika Chaudhary were fast-tracked into the senior core, reducing dependence on an ageing leadership group. However, beneath these successes lay persistent tactical issues. India struggled to convert dominance into goals, particularly in pressure matches. The decline of drag-flick specialist Gurjit Kaur exposed a chronic penalty corner problem that Schopman was unable to resolve, often neutralising India’s high circle-entry numbers against disciplined opponents like Japan and the USA.
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The defining failure of Schopman’s tenure came in 2023–24. India’s inability to win gold at the Asian Games denied them direct Olympic qualification, and this setback was compounded by a disastrous showing at the FIH Olympic Qualifiers in Ranchi. Playing at home, India failed to finish in the top three, effectively ending their Paris 2024 hopes. In February 2024, Schopman resigned, alleging systemic bias and gender discrimination within Hockey India. Her exit coincided with that of CEO Elena Norman, who also cited a “suffocating” administrative environment, exposing deep institutional fractures within the federation.
In response, Hockey India reverted to a domestic coaching model, appointing Harendra Singh in April 2024. A Dronacharya Award winner, Harendra advocated a philosophy often described as “Masala Hockey” a blend of traditional Indian flair and modern structure. His approach emphasised possession, agility, and intuitive play over rigid systems. Initially, the results were encouraging. India went unbeaten to win the Asian Champions Trophy in late 2024, suggesting a revival.
However, consistency again proved elusive. The 2024–25 FIH Pro League campaign was catastrophic, with India finishing last and suffering relegation. Defensive lapses, poor conversion, and waning confidence undermined progress. Matters worsened in 2025 when India lost the Asia Cup final to China, missing yet another route to World Cup qualification. A brief high point a 1–0 win over Australia on tour highlighted potential, but could not mask systemic decline.
Harendra’s tenure ended abruptly in December 2025 amid reports of player dissatisfaction. Senior players complained of an authoritarian coaching style and poor load management, which contributed to a severe injury crisis that sidelined over a dozen core players. The breakdown of trust between players and management underscored a critical lesson: tactical intent cannot succeed without scientific continuity and psychological safety.
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Against this backdrop, Hockey India turned back to Sjoerd Marijne in January 2026. His reappointment represents not nostalgia, but pragmatism. Marijne’s earlier success was rooted in elite fitness standards, collaborative decision-making, and a high-performance ecosystem led by scientific advisor Dr Wayne Lombard. Their reunion signals a return to those principles at a time when the team urgently needs stability.
Marijne’s immediate challenge is clear. India must navigate the FIH Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad in March 2026, their final chance to secure a spot at the global showpiece. Beyond that lies the 2026 Asian Games, a critical gateway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. With many senior players familiar with Marijne’s methods, Hockey India hopes the transition will be swift and effective.
The past five years have demonstrated that Indian women’s hockey does not lack talent or ambition. Its struggles have stemmed from fractured governance, inconsistent scientific support, and repeated philosophical shifts. Marijne’s return offers an opportunity to restore coherence provided administrative unity and athlete-centric decision-making finally take precedence.
As India embarks on yet another rebuild, the lesson from this turbulent cycle is unmistakable: sustained success in modern hockey depends not just on who coaches the team, but on whether the system around them is stable enough to let that vision breathe.
