Marijne targets greater squad depth with LA2028 in mind ahead of Women's Asian Champions Trophy in Bhopal
As the Indian women’s hockey team prepares to defend its crown at the Madhya Pradesh Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Bhopal from November 19 to 28, 2026, chief coach Sjoerd Marijne has prioritised building greater squad depth and versatility ahead of upcoming international commitments. He has signalled a focus on testing players in new roles and giving emerging talent opportunities in the tournament environment.
India arrive off a landmark season that included a historic Asian Games gold in Japan, and their preparations have concentrated on improving adaptability across positions and exposing younger players to competitive minutes. The squad has been working in a camp in Bengaluru, and Marijne has downplayed concerns about surface changes after describing the Asian Games pitch as “very difficult and bumpy,” noting opponents will face the same conditions. He added that creating depth will make training sessions more competitive and is aimed at long-term player development.
“Some players will be playing in different positions than they normally do, so that we can see how they perform in a different role,” Marijne said, explaining the tactical intent behind positional switches. He said the experiment is intended to reveal whether those changes add value to the team’s style and to prepare players for situations such as injuries in major tournaments, including the Olympics.
Marijne cited specific examples of positional adaptation and squad rotation, saying Ishika, normally a striker, is being used at times as a midfielder and Rutuja (Dadaso Pisal) is undergoing a similar transition. He also named youngsters who will get chances in Bhopal — Pooja (Sahoo) and debutant Jyoti Singh — and confirmed Mumtaz has returned to the squad after a long absence.
On the opposition, Marijne stressed the primary focus remains India’s own improvements rather than the makeup of rival squads, saying the team must concentrate on what it wants to do better after the Asian Games. He said the topics worked on in Bengaluru will now be assessed under tournament pressure and that performance in those situations will determine progress.
Marijne also outlined concerns about managing workload across a busy calendar, noting the importance of players being “mentally fresh, physically fresh and rested, but also prepared” for tests later in the season. He warned that immediately returning to high-level matches — mentioning fixtures against Argentina and Germany in February that follow a short break after tournaments such as the Hockey India League — will challenge the team’s ability to regain international rhythm quickly.
The Women’s Asian Champions Trophy will be played at the International Sports Complex in Nathu Barkheda, Bhopal. India will start its campaign on November 19 against Malaysia.