New Delhi, March 18 (NationPress) After being drawn into Pool D for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium & Netherlands, the Indian women's team finds itself alongside England, China, and South Africa. Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed confidence in the team's ability to tackle the significant challenges ahead while maintaining their unique hockey style.

The marquee event is scheduled for August this year, following the draw announced on Tuesday evening.

Within their group, China stands out as the top-ranked team, currently positioned at World No. 4. England, who recently faced India in the finals and emerged victorious in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers held in Hyderabad, Telangana, is ranked sixth. Meanwhile, India and South Africa are ranked ninth and nineteenth, respectively. The variance in playing styles across these teams will create a thrilling challenge for the Indian squad.

“This pool is incredibly competitive and well-balanced. With teams like England and China, which bring unique styles and considerable experience, and the South African women's national field hockey team, known for their unpredictability, every match will be a test,” Marijne stated.

“However, our focus is not solely on the draw—it’s about how we perform. At the World Cup, every game requires our absolute best. We respect all our opponents, but we must stay true to our style of hockey with both consistency and courage,” he added.

India recently secured second place in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Hyderabad, coming up short against England in the final. Despite this setback, there were positive takeaways, as the team finished as the second-highest goal scorers in the tournament, netting 11 goals, six of which were from penalty corners.

Reflecting on the qualifiers, Marijne urged the team to strive for continuous improvement and consistency, emphasizing the need to be more effective in converting opportunities into goals—whether from field play or penalty corners. “We have made progress offensively, but our primary focus must be on turning our chances into goals. Additionally, we need to enhance our defensive structures,” he said.

Having previously led the team to a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Marijne resumed his role in January. He elaborated on his long-term vision for the squad: “We are developing a resilient, adaptable, and fearless team. Qualifying was just the beginning; we aspire to achieve much more. We have made initial strides in the right direction, but there is still much work ahead for us to find success.”

Looking toward the upcoming tournament, Marijne highlighted the importance of preparation, stating, “We have planned tours to the USA and Argentina, the Nations Cup in New Zealand, and practice matches in Germany. We will also engage in several matches in the Netherlands. This combination of scheduled games and training camps will create an excellent mix to prepare us for the World Cup and the Asian Games.”