Sjoerd Marijne: Sjoerd Marijne of Netherlands appointed head coach of Indian women’s hockey team

New Delhi: Netherlands’ Sjoerd Marin was again appointed as the head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team on Friday. He will hold this post for the second time. Earlier, during his tenure as coach, the Indian women’s team had finished fourth in the Tokyo Olympic Games. 51-year-old Marin, a former Netherlands hockey player, was associated with the Indian women’s team from 2017 to 2021.

His team will also include Matias Villa who has been appointed analytical coach. Former Argentinian midfielder Villa made his international hockey debut in 1997. He represented his country at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and the Athens Olympics in 2004. He has been associated with coaching for more than two decades. Wayne Lombard is also returning to the Indian hockey team, who will act as scientific advisor and head of sports performance. He will be supported in this by Rodet Ila and Ciara Ila who have been appointed as scientific advisors.

“It feels great to be back in India,” Marin said in a Hockey India release. I return to this position after four and a half years with renewed energy and a clear vision to make a significant contribution in taking the team forward and helping the players perform to their full potential at the world stage.”

During Marin’s previous tenure, India had entered the top 10 of the world rankings. Marin’s first big challenge as head coach will be the Women’s World Cup Qualifier tournament to be held in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14. Marin will reach India on January 14, while the national coaching camp will begin on January 19 at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) campus in Bengaluru.

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said, “We welcome Sword Marin and the entire support staff to the Indian hockey family. We express our gratitude to the Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India for expeditiously completing the recruitment process keeping in mind the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.” He said, ”Special emphasis has been laid on the fitness of the team, which was one of the major reasons for the historic performance of the Indian women’s team in Tokyo. We expect good performance from the team.