New Delhi, July 15: The head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, Sjoerd Marijne, believes that the team has entered a crucial phase of preparation for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 with newfound confidence and positive energy. Following their recent victory in the FIH Nations Cup without losing a match, the team’s morale is significantly high. The players are fully committed to performing well in both the upcoming World Cup and the Asian Games.
With just one month left until the FIH Hockey World Cup, which begins on August 15 in Belgium and the Netherlands, the Indian women’s team is currently undergoing rigorous training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center in Bengaluru. Their impressive success in the Nations Cup has provided the team with the necessary momentum and confidence ahead of the World Cup.
Coach Sjoerd Marijne stated that the presence of two major tournaments, the World Cup and the Asian Games, has generated tremendous enthusiasm among the players. Each athlete is working diligently during the training camp, focusing on continuous improvement.
He remarked, “The team is extremely excited about the upcoming events. There is a strong desire for constant improvement within the group, which is our greatest strength. In the final month of preparation, special attention is being given to balancing fitness and player workloads. Intense practice every day is not feasible, so a balanced schedule of high, medium, and light sessions has been created. The strength and conditioning coach is closely monitoring each player’s fitness to ensure they are fully prepared for the World Cup.”
Marijne believes that the team has shown remarkable improvement at both individual and collective levels over the past few months. This progress gives them confidence for a strong performance in the World Cup.
The men’s and women’s hockey World Cups will be held simultaneously from August 15 to 30 in Belgium and the Netherlands. The Indian women’s team is hopeful that their recent outstanding performance and strong preparation will lead to significant success in this prestigious tournament.
In the World Cup, India has been placed in Pool D. The team will kick off their campaign against strong contenders China on August 16, followed by matches against South Africa on August 18 and England on August 20 during the group stage.
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