Amstelveen [Netherlands], August 30 (ANI): India girls’s hockey chief coach Sjoerd Marijne believes his staff’s spectacular performances on the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2026, together with a hard-fought draw in opposition to Paris Olympics silver medallists China, have given the facet confidence forward of the Asian Games, scheduled to happen in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
India’s girls’s staff completed fifth on the World Cup, their finest outcome within the match since securing a fourth-place end on the inaugural version in 1974. Salima Tete’s facet sealed the milestone with a 3-1 win over World No. 5 Germany within the fifth/sixth place classification match in Amstelveen. The Indian staff additionally drew their first-round match in opposition to China 2-2.
Reflecting on India’s 2-2 draw in opposition to China, one of many favourites for the Asian Games 2026 title, Coach Marijne mentioned the staff had rigorously analysed the match whereas taking confidence from its total efficiency. The Dutch coach, nevertheless, harassed that the most important takeaway from the World Cup was the idea the gamers gained by competing in opposition to prime groups.
‘We watched the match again in opposition to China, and we did lots of issues properly. In the third quarter, they did very well, and that’s one thing now we have to look into. But crucial factor is the entire World Cup, not solely the match in opposition to China, gave us lots of confidence,’ mentioned Marijne in a video posted by Hockey India on X.
‘And yeah, I can inform the women many instances ‘you are able to do it, and we’re a superb staff, however it’s a must to expertise your self.’ You must play lots of these matches, after which if you happen to play a match like that in opposition to China, yeah, it boosts the boldness,’ he added.
Notably, Hockey India introduced a money award of Rs 50 lakh for the Indian Women’s Hockey Team in recognition of their historic fifth-place end. (ANI)