Indian women's hockey team is likely to get a new head coach because the future of Janneke Schopman is in limbo

Under Janneke Schopman, the Indian women's hockey team's only medals came at the 2022 CWG and the 2023 Asian Games, when they won bronze.

Janneke Schopman took over after Sjoerd Marijne resigned as India women's hockey head coach.

New Delhi: The future of Indian women's hockey team head coach Janneke Schopman is uncertain as the Dutchwoman is unlikely to get a contract extension after poor performances on the eve. It was under Schopman that Indian women failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics in the qualifiers held at home in Ranchi. Schopman's association with Hockey India dates back to the time when Sjoerd Marijne was head coach. She was the team's analytical coach during the Marijne era and was part of the Indian contingent that finished a historic fourth at the Tokyo Olympics.

With Marijne stepping down after the heroics of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Schopman was given the role of head coach. “Her contract expires in July-August (until the Paris Olympics). Let's see what happens, I can't say anything at the moment,” an HI source told PTI.

Under Schopman, India's best results came at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Asian Games, where they won bronze both times. A gold at the Asian Games would have instantly sealed the Indian women's place at the Paris Games.

During the Olympic qualifiers in Ranchi earlier this year, India lost to Japan in the bronze medal play-off, with three top teams from the tournament sealing their places for the Paris Games. To add more, Schopman's relationship with Hockey India Secretary General Bholanath Singh also turned sour.

Things went from bad to worse after her recent outburst in the media after India's last FIH Pro League match at home against the US, where she alleged that she did not get the value and respect from some quarters of the national federation during her tenure here.

Schopman, an Olympic gold medalist, also claimed she felt “alone a lot over the past two years”, and was critical of the different treatment given to the women's team compared to the men's. According to sources, the 46-year-old Schopman wants a higher salary, comparable to that of men's team head coach Craig Fulton, and this was exactly the reason behind her recent tirade.

“To demand a higher salary is about the results. She has done well with the girls, but the recent results are not in her favor,” the source said. Schopman's next assignment with the Indian women's team is the European leg of the FIH Pro League in May.