First priority right now is fitness: Marijne outlines roadmap for women’s hockey team’s ahead of Asian Games 2026

Indian women’s hockey team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne has outlined fitness and team cohesion as his immediate priorities as the side builds towards the Asian Games 2026 and the larger Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.

Marijne, who returned to the women’s programme in December 2025 after a four-year break, said the initial focus is on raising fitness levels while ensuring the squad functions as a united group before shifting attention to technical aspects.

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“Our first priority right now is fitness, which is a very important aspect for us. Alongside that, the focus is on coming together and functioning as a strong unit,” Marijne told SAI. “From there on, we can work on all the other things like techniques.”

The Indian women’s team is preparing for a packed international calendar, including the FIH Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14, the Asian Games 2026, and other key tournaments in the run-up to LA 2028.

Under Marijne’s guidance, India had registered a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and he wasted little time in taking charge of the ongoing national coaching camp at the Sports Authority of India’s regional centre in Bengaluru, which runs until February 18. The camp began with 49 players (43 seniors and six juniors) before being trimmed to 29 following selection trials conducted by Hockey India.

Reflecting on his initial weeks back with the squad, Marijne stressed the importance of understanding players at an individual level.

“We are still getting to know each other. While I am familiar with a few of the players from before, not everyone is known to me yet. It is important for us to work at an individual level and understand what is best for each player. We are receiving strong support from the strength and conditioning coaches, who are playing a key role in guiding this process,” the Dutchman explained.

He reiterated that physical readiness remains the cornerstone of the current phase of preparation.

“Right now, the most important thing is managing the players’ bodies and overall fitness. The tactical framework is already clear, and that is not what will make the difference at this stage. We are working together towards a common goal, and that is precisely why I decided to return,” he said.