Sjoerd Marijne calls for same hockey squad at World Cup and Asian Games

On Thursday, Indian women’s hockey team head coach Sjoerd Marijne emphasized the necessity of fielding the same squad for both the upcoming World Cup and the Asian Games during an interactive session at the KSBA in Bengaluru. Speaking on World Sports Journalists Day, Marijne explained that maintaining player consistency despite a tight 20-day gap between the two major tournaments is crucial for team performance and securing direct Olympic qualification.

The discussion, organized by the Sports Writers Association of Bangalore, marked Marijne's return to the city after leading the national side to a Nation Cup victory in New Zealand last week.

With the World Cup scheduled to conclude in August, competitors will face a brief 20-day turnaround before the Asian Games begin. While some might view the tight schedule as a challenge, Marijne dismissed concerns and asserted that playing the same set of players across both events is the best path forward.

"If I go with another team to the World Cup, the team missing out is losing," Marijne said. "We need to play more matches. So that’s why the World Cup can lead us to be even better."

A gold medal at the Asian Games ensures direct qualification for the next Olympic Games. Marijne noted that the primary benefit of securing an early qualification is the luxury of having two full years of uninterrupted preparation time before the Olympics.

Former India hockey captain and 1980 Moscow Olympic gold medallist MM Somaya also addressed the gathering at KSBA, echoing Marijne's tactical stance. The 67-year-old veteran, who experienced similar tight tournament schedules during his playing career, noted that performing well at the World Cup is vital for lifting India's international standings. Currently, the Indian men's team is ranked eighth globally, while the women's team sits at ninth.

Somaya expressed optimism about the men's national team, observing that they have recovered from earlier setbacks with strong performances, including draws and wins against top teams during the Hobart and European legs of the FIH Pro League. He concluded that the teams seem to be peaking at the right time ahead of the World Cup and Asian Games.