Who is India's women's hockey team coach? Meet Sjoerd Marijne who is leading from the back

Indian women's hockey team has me history by beating Australia by a solitary goal in quarterfinal to reach semi-finals of Tokyo Olympics 2020. While Indians praised women in blue for making history on pitch, one man who stood out was team’s he coach Sjoerd Marijne. A Dutch by birth, Marijne just became a hero a long way away from his home. coach who is believed to have moulded team to reach ir current potential will w look to furr prolong his stay in Tokyo and bring India gold.

Who is Indian women's hockey team coach

Hailing from Hertogenbosch, Nerlands, Sjoerd Marijne was t always a fan favourite among Indian hockey fans. Since his introduction to India and its hockey team, Marijne took some time to settle in. Marijne h coached Dutch senior women's team and its U-21 men's team and some club outfits before being handed coach’s cap of Indian team. It came as a surprise for many when Marijne first left coach position of Indian women's hockey team in 2017.

47-year-old went on to coach Indian senior men's team just before 2018 Commonwealth Games. However, team fared poorly in tournament, and Marijne was brought back to women's hockey team in same year. Picking up from a weak start in 2018, Marijne came a long way to guide women’s team to a historic semi-final spot in Olympic Games in Tokyo when India defeated world . 2 Australia 1-0 in quarterfinal at Oi Hockey Stium in Tokyo.

Marijne’s journey with women’s team h hit a rough patch when y suffered a loss to Japan in final of 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. However, team stuck with coach and continued to practice for next event. coach has so far helped team play a total of 78 matches across 18 competitions. Despite any possible result of semi-finals, Marijne has alrey become a fan favourite for many Indians.

Coach Marijne's Indian side makes history at  Tokyo Olympics 2020

Following win in India vs Australia quarter-finals, Sjoerd Marijne looked ecstatic. coach later tweeted a picture with team and apologised to his family for extending his stay at Tokyo Olympics. He wrote, "Sorry family, I coming again later". entry into semi-final is best performance by an Indian women's hockey side since y me ir Olympic debut in Moscow in 1980. Indian women's hockey side h finished 4th in six-team edition in 1980 Olympics. India Women will lock horns against Argentina in semifinal Wednesday, August 4. 

IM: TWITTER