Sjoerd Marijne Takes Charge as Chief Coach of Indian Women's Hockey Team

Hockey India has appointed Sjoerd Marijne as the Chief Coach of the Indian Women's Hockey Team, marking his return after a successful previous stint. With a strengthened coaching staff, including Matias Vila and Dr. Wayne Lombard, Marijne aims to enhance the team's performance ahead of the FIH Hockey Women's World Cup Qualifiers in March 2026. The leadership expresses optimism for the team's future, emphasizing fitness and preparation for upcoming challenges. Marijne's experience and familiarity with the players are expected to play a crucial role in their success.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 2, 2026, 14:24 IST

Sjoerd Marijne Appointed Chief Coach

On Friday, Hockey India officially announced the selection of Sjoerd Marijne as the Chief Coach for the Indian Women's Hockey Team, as stated in a press release.

Enhanced Coaching and Support Team

The Dutch coach returns to the Indian hockey setup following a remarkable performance at the Tokyo Olympic Games, where the team secured a 4th place finish in their second Olympic appearance in over 36 years. Matias Vila, a former Argentine midfielder who has been coaching for two decades, will assist Marijne as the Analytical Coach. Vila represented Argentina in the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics.

Additionally, Dr. Wayne Lombard rejoins the Indian hockey scene as the Scientific Advisor and Head of Athletic Performance, supported by Rodet Yila and Ciara Yila, both serving as Scientific Advisors.

Leadership Welcomes the New Coach

Reflecting on his return to India after a successful tenure from 2017 to 2021, during which the Indian Women's Team climbed into the top 10 world rankings, Marijne expressed, "It's wonderful to be back. After 4.5 years, I come with renewed energy and a clear vision to aid the team's development and help players reach their full potential on the global stage."

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey welcomed Marijne and the support staff to the Indian Hockey family, expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for facilitating the appointment to ensure the team's preparation for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers remains uninterrupted. He emphasized the importance of fitness, which was crucial to the Indian Women's historic performance in Tokyo, and expressed optimism for a successful tenure.

Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh echoed these sentiments, wishing Marijne and the support staff success in their roles. He noted that many players in the core group are familiar with Marijne's coaching style, and there are high expectations for the team's performance, especially with the Asian Games and World Cup Qualifier on the horizon.

Upcoming Challenges

Marijne's initial significant challenge as Chief Coach will be the FIH Hockey Women's World Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Hyderabad, Telangana, from March 8 to March 14, 2026. He is set to arrive in India on January 14, with the National Coaching Camp commencing on January 19 at SAI, Bengaluru.