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#Marijne #sharper #finishing #India #womens #team #seals #Pro #League #return">Marijne wants sharper finishing after India women’s team seals Pro League return Indian women’s hockey team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne has called for improved field-goal conversion despite his team’s successful return to the FIH Pro League after winning the Nations Cup.
India defeated host New Zealand 2-0 in Sunday’s final, courtesy of goals from Navneet Kaur and Sunelita Toppo, to clinch its second Nations Cup title and secure promotion to the Pro League.
“Of course, we are delighted to win our first tournament and final together,” Marijne said after the victory.
“It was crucial for us to learn how to win finals, especially after our recent heartbreak against England in the World Cup qualifier. The team improved with every match. We relied on a very strong and well-organised defence.”
The Dutch coach, however, said India’s finishing from open play still requires improvement.
“While we created enough opportunities to score more, that remains an area where we must keep working. Our penalty-corner conversion was very good throughout this tournament. If we can achieve a higher conversion rate for field goals, that will be fantastic.”
Marijne also acknowledged the challenge of entering the competition as the highest-ranked team.
“It is never easy to win a tournament when you enter as the highest-ranked team. We showed that we can manage that pressure well.
“Moving forward, playing against the top teams in the world will provide an important learning process for our youngsters. Testing ourselves at the highest level is exactly what we need to grow to the next tier.”
India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, defeating the USA, Japan and Uruguay in the group stage before overcoming Chile in the semifinal.
Striker Lalremsiami was named Player of the Final, while drag-flicker Deepika finished joint top scorer with six goals alongside USA’s Ashley Sessa.
Hockey India announced a cash reward of Rs. 3 lakh for each player and Rs. 1.5 lakh for every member of the support staff.
Team effort
Captain Salima Tete said the title was a reward for the team’s preparation.
“It feels absolutely amazing to lift this trophy. Our entire team worked incredibly hard for this moment. We entered this tournament with a clear mindset to bring the trophy home. Securing promotion back to the Pro League was extremely important for us. I am proud that we achieved our goal.”
Looking ahead to the World Cup in August, Salima added: “This victory provides a massive boost to our confidence. The team is playing with a very strong mindset right now. Every single match in this tournament was highly important for us. This win gives us the perfect momentum for our future preparations.”
Published on Jun 22, 2026
Indian women’s hockey team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne has called for improved field-goal conversion despite…
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#Tight #Schedule #Big #Stakes #Indian #Womens #Hockey #Balances #World #Cup #Asian #Games #Push">Tight Schedule, Big Stakes: Indian Women’s Hockey Balances World Cup, Asian Games Push
While there has been a lot of talk on the Indian men’s hockey team’s composition for the upcoming World Cup and the Asian Games, not many have spoken about the same for the women.
In fact, the women’s team’s schedule is much tighter, with the Nations Cup also scheduled in June before the two big events. The Nations Cup is equally important for it to try and earn back its spot in the FIH Pro league.
Add to it the fact that coach Sjoerd Marijne, returning after five years to take charge in very different conditions, the challenge becomes manifold. Marijne, however, is unperturbed by it all.
“It was the same in 2018, and we also had the Commonwealth Games back then, so we had four tournaments. And we worked from tournament to tournament with the Asian Games for us being most important, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to do well at the others.
“We’re using them to be at our best, but I believe we can perform in every tournament, and it doesn’t matter for the next one. We played the quarterfinals at the 2018 World Cup, but then we also did really well at the Asian Games, winning silver. So that’s the way we’re going to do it,” Marijne said during an interaction with select media on Friday.
The recent four-match outing against Argentina was important for the Dutchman to assess the players in competition, and Marijne, while admitting there were quite a few areas to work on, was optimistic about the improvements in the side.
“I think we are moving in the right direction. I’m not talking only about winning or losing, because I didn’t play any penalty corner variations. We were training different kind of systems and I think the progress in that has been really positive. For us, the important thing was the benchmark set by Argentina. And you know now what is required to be able to play against the World No. 2 and be successful. The good thing was that we improved every match. And they struggled sometimes with our speed, that is something I’m quite happy with,” he explained.
While Marijne has a problem of too many tournaments, the newly-appointed junior women’s coach Tim White has little to no international assignment through the year, giving him enough time to understand and work on the team. With Indian women’s hockey players often straddling both the senior and junior teams, White and Marijne have taken to working together during national camps to build a synergy between the sides.
“I accepted the job because I always saw India as having a lot of potential to be a really world-class team and the challenge of helping the team get to that point and also supporting the seniors is exciting. For any team to have sustainable success, you have to have a good collaboration between the senior and junior programmes. I’m already working with Sjoerd, we’re in the same environment, we share a lot,” White said in his first media interaction since taking charge.
White, however, did admit that the group’s fitness was below-par.
“I’ve observed that the group is lower physically than where I was in Belgium or even in Australia. We are going to have to work hard to be able to compete with the best junior teams and also have a flow of athletes going into the senior programme. I need to make sure I help the group understand what level of intensity they need to train at. But it’s a challenge in India for sure.”
Published on Apr 24, 2026
While there has been a lot of talk on the Indian men’s hockey team’s composition for the upcoming World Cup and the Asian Games, not many have spoken about the same for the women.
In fact, the women’s team’s schedule is much tighter, with the Nations Cup also scheduled in June before the two big events. The Nations Cup is equally important for it to try and earn back its spot in the FIH Pro league.
Add to it the fact that coach Sjoerd Marijne, returning after five years to take charge in very different conditions, the challenge becomes manifold. Marijne, however, is unperturbed by it all.
“It was the same in 2018, and we also had the Commonwealth Games back then, so we had four tournaments. And we worked from tournament to tournament with the Asian Games for us being most important, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to do well at the others.
“We’re using them to be at our best, but I believe we can perform in every tournament, and it doesn’t matter for the next one. We played the quarterfinals at the 2018 World Cup, but then we also did really well at the Asian Games, winning silver. So that’s the way we’re going to do it,” Marijne said during an interaction with select media on Friday.
The recent four-match outing against Argentina was important for the Dutchman to assess the players in competition, and Marijne, while admitting there were quite a few areas to work on, was optimistic about the improvements in the side.
“I think we are moving in the right direction. I’m not talking only about winning or losing, because I didn’t play any penalty corner variations. We were training different kind of systems and I think the progress in that has been really positive. For us, the important thing was the benchmark set by Argentina. And you know now what is required to be able to play against the World No. 2 and be successful. The good thing was that we improved every match. And they struggled sometimes with our speed, that is something I’m quite happy with,” he explained.
While Marijne has a problem of too many tournaments, the newly-appointed junior women’s coach Tim White has little to no international assignment through the year, giving him enough time to understand and work on the team. With Indian women’s hockey players often straddling both the senior and junior teams, White and Marijne have taken to working together during national camps to build a synergy between the sides.
“I accepted the job because I always saw India as having a lot of potential to be a really world-class team and the challenge of helping the team get to that point and also supporting the seniors is exciting. For any team to have sustainable success, you have to have a good collaboration between the senior and junior programmes. I’m already working with Sjoerd, we’re in the same environment, we share a lot,” White said in his first media interaction since taking charge.
White, however, did admit that the group’s fitness was below-par.
“I’ve observed that the group is lower physically than where I was in Belgium or even in Australia. We are going to have to work hard to be able to compete with the best junior teams and also have a flow of athletes going into the senior programme. I need to make sure I help the group understand what level of intensity they need to train at. But it’s a challenge in India for sure.”
Published on Apr 24, 2026
While there has been a lot of talk on the Indian men’s hockey team’s composition…
Sports news
#IND #ARG #India #Savita #boost #ahead #Argentina #tour #Salimas #services">IND vs ARG: India gets Savita boost ahead of Argentina tour but will miss Salima’s services
Star goalkeeper and former captain Savita Punia will return to the national women’s hockey team after 10 months, but indisposed skipper Salima Tete will be missing from action when India takes on Argentina in the first game of the four-match series, here on Monday.
Savita has not competed since June 2025 as she took a break from the game due to personal reasons. Salima, a quality mid-fielder, is still recovering from a bout of chicken pox.
The tour will serve as the ideal preparation for India ahead of the FIH Nations Cup, the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, and the Asian Games later this year.
Ahead of the tour, the Indian women’s team trained in Bengaluru before departing for Argentina on Thursday evening.
Having finished runner-up at World Cup Qualifiers 2026 held in Hyderabad, the team will be looking to carry that momentum forward into the tour and the rest of the year.
Experienced forward Navneet Kaur will serve as the captain of the team during the tour in the absence of Salima. Navneet had recently won Hockey India’s Player of the Year award for her consistent performances. The return of veteran goalkeeper Savita will be a huge boost, with Bichu Devi Kharibam expected to share goalkeeping duties with her.
Having recently earned her 200th international cap, Nikki Pradhan will lead the way at the back alongside the vastly experienced Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam.
Sharing his thoughts on the tour, India chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said, “We are here with 23 players, who will all get the opportunity to showcase themselves. We will use this tour as an opportunity to play with different team combinations and find ways to win.”
“The big goal for me here is to see the individual and team performances against the number two-ranked side in the world.” The likes of Ishika Chaudhary, Manisha Chauhan, Jyoti and Udita also add solidity to India’s back line. Lalthantluangi will also get the opportunity to prove her mettle after earning a call-up to the senior side.
ALSO READ | Tim White appointed coach of Indian junior women’s hockey team
With Salima missing from the line-up, Neha will be anchoring a young midfield unit alongside Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke and Sunelita Toppo.
The likes of Sakshi Rana, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Ishika and Deepika Soreng, who have impressed at the senior level so far, will get the opportunity to make their mark and cement their place in the starting line-up.
Baljeet Kaur, Deepika, and Beauty Dungdung will provide attacking options as well. Mumtaz Khan also returns to the setup and can provide more goal scoring threat, with Annu also in the mix.
Published on Apr 12, 2026
Star goalkeeper and former captain Savita Punia will return to the national women’s hockey team after 10 months, but indisposed skipper Salima Tete will be missing from action when India takes on Argentina in the first game of the four-match series, here on Monday.
Savita has not competed since June 2025 as she took a break from the game due to personal reasons. Salima, a quality mid-fielder, is still recovering from a bout of chicken pox.
The tour will serve as the ideal preparation for India ahead of the FIH Nations Cup, the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, and the Asian Games later this year.
Ahead of the tour, the Indian women’s team trained in Bengaluru before departing for Argentina on Thursday evening.
Having finished runner-up at World Cup Qualifiers 2026 held in Hyderabad, the team will be looking to carry that momentum forward into the tour and the rest of the year.
Experienced forward Navneet Kaur will serve as the captain of the team during the tour in the absence of Salima. Navneet had recently won Hockey India’s Player of the Year award for her consistent performances. The return of veteran goalkeeper Savita will be a huge boost, with Bichu Devi Kharibam expected to share goalkeeping duties with her.
Having recently earned her 200th international cap, Nikki Pradhan will lead the way at the back alongside the vastly experienced Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam.
Sharing his thoughts on the tour, India chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said, “We are here with 23 players, who will all get the opportunity to showcase themselves. We will use this tour as an opportunity to play with different team combinations and find ways to win.”
“The big goal for me here is to see the individual and team performances against the number two-ranked side in the world.” The likes of Ishika Chaudhary, Manisha Chauhan, Jyoti and Udita also add solidity to India’s back line. Lalthantluangi will also get the opportunity to prove her mettle after earning a call-up to the senior side.
ALSO READ | Tim White appointed coach of Indian junior women’s hockey team
With Salima missing from the line-up, Neha will be anchoring a young midfield unit alongside Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke and Sunelita Toppo.
The likes of Sakshi Rana, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Ishika and Deepika Soreng, who have impressed at the senior level so far, will get the opportunity to make their mark and cement their place in the starting line-up.
Baljeet Kaur, Deepika, and Beauty Dungdung will provide attacking options as well. Mumtaz Khan also returns to the setup and can provide more goal scoring threat, with Annu also in the mix.
Published on Apr 12, 2026
Star goalkeeper and former captain Savita Punia will return to the national women’s hockey team…