India’s women’s hockey team coach Janneke Schopman has resigned from her position just days after hitting out at Hockey India for preferential treatment meted out to the men’s national teams.
Schopman, whose tenure was to end in August this year, has sent her resignation to Hockey India (HI), confirmed people aware of the development.
“She made her intentions clear to HI that she doesn’t want to continue anymore and she has sent her resignation. In all likelihood, it is going to be accepted, ” said an official in the know.
This brings down curtains to a bitter saga that started with the women’s team not qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Indian team lost two opportunities to qualify for Olympics, first at the Asian Games and then, at the FIH Olympic qualifiers at home in Ranchi where the team went down 0-1 to Japan in third-fourth place match.
This led to much criticism of Schopman, who had taken over the reins from Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne after the team had finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics. Schopman was then the analytical coach.
Last week, Schopmam broke down during an interaction with the media in the mixed zone after India’s Pro League match against US, saying she doesn’t feel “valued and respected.”
“I felt alone a lot in the last two years, ” she had said. “It has been very hard. Because, I come from a culture where women are respected and valued. I don’t feel that here.
The 46-year-old had further added: “I look at the difference at how men’s coaches are treated between me and the men’s coach, or the girls and the men’s team, just in general.”
Under Schopman, the Indian team had a record of 38 wins in 74 matches. They also drew 17 and loss 19 matches. The gold medal in the Asian Champions Trophy was a high point but the failure to make the Olympics was probably the final nail in the coffin.
