It’s uphill task for India’s chief women’s hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne as 2026 FIH World Cup in Belgium and Netherlands is just five months to go

It’s an uphill task for India’s chief women’s hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne as the 2026 FIH World Cup in Belgium and Netherlands is just five months to go. In preparation for the global competition and Asian Games in September, the Indian women’s hockey team will tour Argentina to play a four-match series this month, according to the press release of Hockey India.

“We are travelling to Argentina with a squad of 24 players. The tour is about giving more players the chance to perform at the highest level,” India’s chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said.

 “Argentina is one of the best teams in the world, and that environment will tell us a lot about where each player stands. We want to see who steps up when it matters,” he added.

The Indian team performance at the FIH World Cup qualifiers wasn’t as good as expected. India lost 0-2 to England in the final. Top three teams in the qualifiers held in Hyderabad earlier in February got passage to the FIH World Cup in Europe.

According to Sjoerd Marijne, to earn a place in the national team the players need to show individual as well as team spirit. “If you cannot connect with the group and work for each other, it will be very difficult to make this squad,” he added.

EOM