Indian Women’s Hockey Team Chief Coach Anneke Schopman Resigns
Dara Singh Chahal
Pune, 24th Feb 2024: Janneke Schopman, the chief coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, has tendered her resignation from her position, marking the end of her tenure following the conclusion of the FIH Pro League 2023-24 matches in India.
Schopman, a Dutch coach, submitted her resignation to Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey after the Indian leg of the FIH Pro League concluded on February 18. During this phase, the Indian women’s hockey team secured eight points from eight matches, winning two games and losing five.
The decision comes in the aftermath of the Indian women’s team’s failure to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics during the qualifiers held in Ranchi last month. Following the disappointment, Schopman’s resignation allows Hockey India to seek a suitable replacement who can prepare the team for future competitions, including the Women’s World Cup in 2026 and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Schopman, 46, was appointed as the chief coach of the Indian women’s team after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, succeeding Sjoerd Marijne. Prior to her role as chief coach, she served as the team’s analytical coach under Marijne during the Tokyo Summer Games.
With an illustrious career as both a player and coach, Schopman contributed significantly to the development of women’s hockey. As a defender, she played a pivotal role in the Netherlands’ victories at the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the 2006 Hockey World Cup. She also served as a coach for the USA hockey team from 2014 to 2019, playing a key role in the team’s progress.
Under Schopman’s guidance, the Indian women’s hockey team achieved significant milestones, including winning the inaugural FIH Hockey Nations Cup in 2022 and securing bronze medals at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games last year.
While Schopman’s contract was set to conclude in August, her resignation brings an end to her tenure as the chief coach of the Indian women’s hockey team. The team is scheduled to resume its FIH Pro League campaign in Antwerp in May, where they will face Belgium and Argentina in crucial encounters.
