Coach Marijne's Message: Team First at Asian Games
Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne of the Indian women's hockey team has called on his players to put the team's objectives ahead of individual ambitions as they prepare for the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Japan. Hockey India announced the 20-member squad on Friday, with Salima Tete continuing as captain after leading the team to the FIH Nations Cup title in New Zealand last month.
Speaking to ANI after the squad announcement, Marijne stressed that focusing on team goals will naturally lead to individual success. 'One piece of advice for players is to focus on your own task and do that as well as possible, and focus on the team goal, not your individual goal, because if you focus on the team goal, you will reach your individual goal, but not the other way around,' he said. He added that this mindset has yielded positive results in recent months and remains a key message he reinforces.
Salima Tete Leads by Example
Marijne praised Salima Tete for leading by example and inspiring younger players with her energy on the field. However, he noted that senior players such as Navneet Kaur, Sushila Chanu, Savita, Bichu Devi, Nikki Pradhan, and Neha Goyal also provide crucial leadership. 'She is a good example for the younger players. She leads by example. She brings her energy over to the rest of the team. But she is not alone in this. Navneet Kaur is someone who's guarding the more tactical side. We have Sushila, we have Savita, we have Bichu, Nikki, Neha Goyal, so a lot of players are supporting Salima,' Marijne explained.
Nations Cup Triumph and Areas for Improvement
India clinched the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup New Zealand 2025-26 title with a 2-0 victory over hosts New Zealand in the final. Navneet Kaur and Sunelita Toppo scored the goals, while the defence limited New Zealand to just one chance and one penalty corner. Marijne acknowledged the strong defensive structure but identified areas for improvement, particularly converting field chances into goals. 'There are always areas to improve... one of the things we can improve is converting more goals out of the field chances, but also creating opportunities from chances,' he said. He emphasised that maintaining defensive consistency provides a solid foundation even on off days.
Well-Balanced Squad for Asian Games
Marijne described the Asian Games squad as a well-balanced mix of junior, experienced, and senior players. 'I think it's a nice combination of juniors, experienced players and seniors, and that's the combination I'm always searching for to find the right balance. We have been together for five months, a lot of different players have their chances in tours and tournaments, and we think this is the right mix of personalities and of potential of the players,' he said. The 20-member squad includes goalkeepers Savita and Bichu Devi Kharibam; defenders Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lalthantluangi, Jyoti, and Shilpi Dabas; midfielders Nikki Pradhan, Sakshi Rana, Sunelita Toppo, Salima Tete (C), Neha, and Deepika Soreng; and forwards Lalremsiami, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Ishika, Baljeet Kaur, and Beauty Dungdung.
