Marijne Returns to Lead Indian Women's Hockey, Aims for Unity and 2028 Olympics

• Sjoerd Marijne returns as chief coach of the Indian women's hockey team after a four-year hiatus, aiming to instill unity, discipline, and a strong team culture.
• His primary goal is to build a cohesive unit capable of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, focusing on a step-by-step approach through upcoming tournaments.
• Marijne emphasizes creating a task-driven team, highlighting improved player quality, fitness, and English communication skills compared to his previous tenure.
• The team faces crucial tournaments including the FIH Women's World Cup Qualifier in Hyderabad (March 8-14) and the Asian Games 2026, which serves as an Olympic qualifier.
• He stresses the importance of a leadership group, senior players guiding juniors, and consistent performance across all tournaments, while not feeling pressure from past achievements.