Sjoerd Marijne urges India women to 'fight' for Asian Games gold as team settles in Japan
Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne urged India’s women’s hockey team to "fight" for an Asian Games 2026 gold as the side settled in Japan with four days remaining before their campaign began. He addressed the squad’s mindset while they trained and acclimatised ahead of the tournament.
India arrive in Japan after a fifth-place finish at the FIH World Cup 2026, their best result in 52 years, and a run that has contributed to renewed belief within the group. A gold at the Asian Games would be only the second in Indian women’s hockey history after 1982. The squad named for the Asian Games is the same group that competed at the World Cup. Preparations in Japan have focused on adjusting to local conditions and increasing training intensity as the tournament approaches.
On daily preparation and physical management, Marijne outlined the role of the team’s conditioning staff. "We were in Bangalore for active rest (after returning from the FIH World Cup), and after landing in Japan, it is about adjustments to the difference in time and creating more intensity in the training sessions as we get near to the tournament. We’re in a really beautiful environment… Everybody is now focused on the Asian Games. So, Dr Wayne Lombard and his team begin by getting the players back up to the same energy level before you step in… Wayne is responsible for building the programme on the physical side. People think always it’s about training more and more but a really important factor in this is the rest and what way you’re doing the rest, but also the strength sessions. So, he’s building the programme. He monitors the players: how do they feel? How well do they sleep? Do they feel fresh? These things are very important for us staff to know; how high can the training intensity be? Wayne tells me more or less what I can do in my sessions, not which exercise but how high the energy can be and how intense it can be."
Marijne described how the team consciously moved on from the World Cup while also celebrating that achievement. He arranged a special Japanese dinner for the players at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru before departure and asked them to recall their favourite World Cup memories so they could "live it one more time." He said the video analyst produced a montage whose last slide read "Road to Asian Games," and added that they had taken time to relive the success before shifting focus. Marijne warned that "success is not guaranteed. You have to fight for it again and give even more."
On squad dynamics, Marijne highlighted the value of the World Cup experience for younger players and the coaching staff’s expectations. The selected group includes 11 World Cup debutants who, he said, "have experienced all different kind of playing cultures, playing styles and that’s what we can use and build for the future." He stressed continued improvement, saying, "I want more and more because if we stand still and think like we are there, that’s the first stage when you stop improving."
Marijne pointed to the team’s defensive displays at the World Cup and referenced individual milestones within the squad. India held higher-ranked opponents to draws and recorded a 3-1 win over Germany at the tournament, performances he said gave the team confidence in their methods. He also noted that Savita will become the most capped Indian woman player when she plays her second match at the Asian Games 2026 and commented on her influence: "Savita is very professional, so I’m not worried about this at all. If there’s one player who’s focused on the team, then it’s Savita and I think the other players just want to run harder for her. That’s the way it works in the team. We’re really focused as a team and not on the individual milestones. We celebrate as a team."
Marijne explained his focus during team talks and addressed the external nickname he has received. "I must say, I hardly use the word China or Japan or Korea or any other country during our team talks. We are really busy with ourselves," he said when asked about opponents. On being hailed as India’s 'Chak de' coach he said: "For me, the most important thing is the connection with the players, with my staff, with Hockey India and with SAI. I feel very appreciated, and I think that every person likes that. It’s the same for me. I feel very appreciated here in India; and yes, it is, of course, great to hear the stories from ‘Chak de India.’ The girls also speak sometimes about it. So, it’s quite funny."
India will begin their Asian Games 2026 campaign in Japan in four days, with Marijne and his staff continuing training and acclimatisation work as the opening match approaches.
