Coach Steps Down After Indian Women’s Hockey Team Lost Bronze Medal Match

Sjoerd Marijne, who coached the Indian women’s Hockey team and led them to the semifinals of the Olympics, stated that he won’t continue coaching for the side. The bronze medal match against Great Britain was his last assignment as an Indian coach.

The 47-year-old Dutchman revealed the news in the virtual press conference held the other day. “I don’t have any plans because this was my last match with Indian women. It’s up to Janneka (Schopman) now,” he said.

Apparently, both Sjoerd Marijne and the team’s analytical coach Janneka Schopman were offered the extension of their contracts by the Sports Authority of India. But Marijne refused the offer due to personal issues. Mostly, Janneka has chances to take up the head coach duties now.

Marijne was first appointed as the coach of the Indian women’s side in 2017 but soon he was made the coach of the men’s side later that year. Again in 2018, he came back to the women’s side in a rejigging of roles.