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Marijne's 'Tiger' Mantra Fuels India's Historic Asian Games Gold
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News18•03-10-2026, 12:30
Marijne's 'Tiger' Mantra Fuels India's Historic Asian Games Gold
- •Coach Sjoerd Marijne inspired the Indian women's hockey team with a "tiger" analogy before their Asian Games final against China, emphasizing patience, calmness, and resilience.
- •India secured their first Asian Games gold in 44 years by defeating defending champions China 1-0, with Lalremsiami scoring the decisive goal.
- •Marijne expressed confidence in the team's potential after their performance against high-ranked teams, a belief shared by the players.
- •The gold medal has brought renewed attention to women's hockey in India and inspired many young athletes, according to Marijne.
- •Marijne highlighted the team's growing depth with a mix of experienced and young players, but cautioned against complacency for LA28 qualification.
Key Questions Answered
A resilient Indian team defeated defending champions and Olympic silver medallist China 1-0 in the final, with Lalremsiami scoring the decisive goal in the 10th minute to secure their first Asian Games gold medal in 44 years.
Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne gave his players the mantra to "be like a tiger," focusing on the behaviour of a tiger, its hunting style, patience, calmness, and ability to handle setbacks.
By winning the gold medal at the Asian Games, the Indian women's hockey team directly qualified for the Los Angeles Olympics (LA28).
