Sjoerd Marijne Returns As Indian Women’s Hockey Team Coach

Five months after its win in the Asia Cup, held in November 2017, the Women's hockey team is in the news again. On Tuesday (May 2), Hockey India (HI) officially appointed former Dutch women’s national coach Sjoerd Marijne as coach of the Indian women's team.

Marijne was re-designated as the women's coach following the team's unsatisfactory show at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last month

The swap

He was appointed as the team’s chief coach on a four years’ contract last year. Later the same year, the world cup-winning junior team coach Harendra Singh was chosen as High Performance Specialist coach for the senior women’s team and Marijne took over the men’s team, replacing the sacked Roelant Oltmans.

Also Read: Ex-captain of Hockey women’s team, Mamta Kharab becomes Gurgaon ACP

In the latest development, Singh was made in-charge of the men's side, while the Dutchman given charge of the women's team, TOI reported.

India returned home from the CWG medal-less for the first time in the last 12 years

"Harendra Singh brings with himself a wealth of experience and has previously managed a lot of the men's team players during his stints in the Hockey India League and with the junior teams," Hockey India Secretary General Mohd Mushtaque Ahmed said in a statement.

Ready For Tokyo Olympics

The Hockey India official has confirmed that both Marijne and Singh have been appointed for a tenure running up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

"Marijne's first stint with the women's team was a very successful one and we are sure he will continue to do well with this team as he has done in the past," he added.

Marijne, 44, will now train the women for the fifth Women's Asian Champions Trophy in Korea starting May 13

"I'm excited to reunite with the women's team and will look to focus building on the good form exhibited by the team in last six months as we look forward to the World Cup 2018," said Marijne.

Indian Women’s Hockey Team’s stellar performance at the recent concluded Asia Cup, where the team won the trophy, garnered much praise.

We hope to see a major change in the pattern of playing and wish the women’s hockey team the best of luck!

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