New Delhi, September 16 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian women’s hockey team is riding high on confidence following their impressive performance in the Women’s World Cup, according to head coach Sjoerd Marijne. He believes that the team’s best showing in 52 years has not only boosted their morale but has also instilled a deeper sense of belief in their ability to compete against the world’s top teams.
Finishing fifth in the FIH Women’s World Cup, the team is set to carry this newfound confidence into the 2026 Asian Games, where they aim to secure a gold medal and qualify directly for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Marijne noted that the most significant impact of their World Cup campaign was the realization among players that they are capable of competing at the highest level. “I can tell them many times, ‘Okay, we are a good team, you can do this,’ but they need to feel it themselves,” he said. After playing against some of the best teams in the world, they now understand that they can compete and even defeat top contenders, like Germany, which he considers one of the top four teams.
During the World Cup, Germany ranked fifth in the world while India was ninth. The Indian team secured their fifth-place finish by defeating Germany in a classification match.
“It sometimes takes a bit longer to understand what really happened, as you don’t always grasp it in the moment. But now we need to focus on the Asian Games. Of course, coming back with that placement feels great and gives the team a lot of confidence,” Marijne added.
The Asian Games are set to begin on September 19. Marijne acknowledged that India will face tough competition in Aichi-Nagoya, with teams like China, Japan, and South Korea vying for top honors. However, he emphasized the importance of focusing on performance rather than the bigger picture.
When asked about the possibility of winning gold at the Asian Games, Marijne refrained from making hypothetical statements. “I don’t believe in ‘what ifs.’ I know you want answers, but I don’t want to jinx things. I respect my opponents,” he stated.
His cautious approach stems from a desire for players to concentrate on aspects they can control, rather than worrying about outcomes. “Thinking about results, like ‘Oh, if we win this’ or ‘if we lose that,’ creates stress. But if I stay focused on what the girls need from me at this moment, it brings my attention back to what I can control,” he explained.
While Marijne prefers not to look too far ahead, he is encouraged by the hunger for victory within his team. Despite their fifth-place finish in the World Cup, the players were not fully satisfied, and this ambition drives their continuous improvement.
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