Hockey: Janneke Schopman resigns as Indian women’s national team coach

Janneke Schopman has resigned as the chief coach of the Indian women’s national hockey team, Hockey India announced on Friday.

The 46-year-old Dutchwoman has left her role after India failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In a statement announcing Schopman’s resignation, Hockey India stated, “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.”

Schopman, an Olympic gold and World Cup-winning player, had been at the helm of the national team since after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. However, India failed to qualify for the upcoming Paris Olympics after finishing third at the 2022 Asian Games and fourth and the FIH Olympic Qualifiers in Ranchi in January.

Under her, India won the inaugural FIH Nations Cup in 2022 which saw the team win entry into the FIH Women’s Pro League in the ongoing 2023-24 season. She also led India to a bronze-medal finish at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the country’s first medal in women’s hockey since the 2006 edition.

During her tenure, Schopman gave debuts to many up and...

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