Janneke Schopman joined the Indian team as a technical analyst when Sjoerd Marijne was the chief coach. Once Marijne left, Schopman was elevated to the top position.
New Delhi: India women’s hockey team head coach Janneke Schopman resigned from her post on Friday. The Dutch coach submitted her resignation to Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey after the conclusion of India’s outing in the home leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League in Odisha. She had taken over the reigns from former Chief Coach Sjoerd Marine under whose tutelage India finished in a historic fourth position at the Tokyo Olympics.
At the back of the disappointment at the recent Olympic Qualifiers, her resignation has paved the way for Hockey India to look for a suitable Chief Coach for the Women’s Hockey Team who could prepare the Indian Team for the next Women’s World Cup in 2026 and Los Angeles Olympics 2028.
Schopman’s writing was on the wall. Under her guidance, the Indian women’s hockey team failed to make the final of the Olympic Qualifiers that were held at home in Ranchi, Notably, Schopman was among the support staff when the Indian women’s hockey team grabbed a historic fourth-place at the Tokyo Olympics.
Schopman joined the Indian hockey team as a technical analyst while Sjoerd Marijne was on charge. Marijne left after the Tokyo Games following which Schopman was given a promotion. It was under Schopman, former India captain Rani Rampal lost her spot in the national team despite being fit and scoring in national tournaments.
Schopman, who became the first female coach of an Indian hokey team, had been at helm for two-and-a-half years. Earlier, she had complained of not being ‘valued’ and ‘respected’ by Hockey India. She also compared the treatment given to her by Hockey India in comparison to the men’s head coach.
“Very hard, very hard. Because, you know, I come from a culture where women are respected and valued. I don’t feel that here,” Schopman was quoted as saying by Indian Express.