NEW DELHI: Indian women's hockey team chief coach Janneke Schopman resigned on Friday. Her resignation comes just days after she expressed discontent, stating that she felt undervalued and lacked sufficient respect from the national federation.
The Dutch coach tendered her resignation to Hockey India (HI) President Dilip Tirkey after the conclusion of the Indian women’s hockey team’s outing in the home leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League in Odisha.
Schopman's contract was originally set to conclude in August after the Paris Olympics. However, Schopman's recent critical comments, expressing dissatisfaction with how she was valued and respected, likely accelerated the decision for her departure.
Schopman 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," Hockey India said in a media statement.
"It is time to begin a fresh chapter in Indian women's hockey with the players' progress being at the centre of our focus," the statement added.
