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India women won gold beating China at the Asian Games. (Photo: Hockey India)
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Moneycontrol•03-10-2026, 10:19
Sjoerd Marijne Reveals Strategy for India's LA 2028 Gold: Competition and Preparedness
  • •Coach Sjoerd Marijne emphasizes the critical role of competition for spots within the team to continuously elevate performance and build a strong talent pool.
  • •He highlights the importance of having multiple plans (A, B, C, D) backed by data, citing the team's readiness for shootouts as an example of their comprehensive preparation.
  • •Marijne instilled a team-first culture, stressing that individual brilliance is only valuable if it contributes to the collective success of the team.
  • •With qualification secured for LA 2028, Marijne notes the significant advantage of having ample time to refine their strategies, particularly focusing on strengthening their attack.
  • •The coach credits the players and staff for their dedication, which has provided them with a crucial head start in preparing for the upcoming Olympic Games.

Key Questions Answered

Coach Sjoerd Marijne emphasized that infusing new blood and maintaining competition for spots are essential to push the bar, keep the talent pool going, and build a strong team.

Alongside India, only the Netherlands and the tournament hosts USA have qualified for the Olympic Games so far.

Marijne ensured his team was prepared with multiple backup options, including rigorous training for a potential shootout, and data-backed plans ranging from plan A to plan D so they would not be caught by surprise.

Exclusive: Sjoerd Marijne on Crafting India's Gold-Medal Team for LA 2028, Emphasizing Player Competition