When Sjoerd Marijne first took charge of the Indian women’s hockey team in 2017, it was a fragmented group with players lacking basic skills in running, passing, and scoring. Nine years later, as he embarks on his third tenure with the team beginning January 14, Marijne is expected to find the players in a similar state to when he first assessed them.
The Dutch coach, who led the Indian women’s hockey team to its highest-ever finish, fourth place at the Tokyo Olympics, has been appointed as the new chief coach. He succeeds Harendra Singh, who resigned in December due to personal reasons, although reports indicate his exit followed player complaints to the sports ministry about his behavior and a series of unsatisfactory results.
Hockey India officials indicated that Marijne was selected for the head coach position following recommendations from senior players to navigate the team’s current difficulties. India has notably failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics, has been relegated from the FIH Pro League, and is struggling to qualify for this year’s World Cup. Marijne’s inaugural task as head coach will be the World Cup qualifying tournament scheduled in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14.
Marijne expressed enthusiasm upon his return after 4.5 years, stating he feels energized and has a clear vision to foster the team’s development and facilitate player success on the global stage. He previously coached the team during two tenures from 2017 to 2021.
He will be joined by Matias Vila as the analytical coach. Vila, a former midfielder from Argentina, debuted internationally in 1997 and participated in the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympics. With over two decades of coaching experience, he brings valuable expertise to his role.
Wayne Lombard is rejoining the women’s team as the Scientific Advisor and Head of Athletic Performance. His contributions have been pivotal in improving the team’s fitness, a key factor in their semifinal success at the Tokyo Olympics. He will be aided by Rodet Yila and Ciara Yila, who will also serve as Scientific Advisors.
