New Delhi, March 18 (NationPress) After the Indian women's team was drawn into Pool D for the FIH Hockey World Cup set to take place in Belgium and the Netherlands, they will face off against formidable opponents including England, China, and South Africa. Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed confidence in his team's ability to navigate the challenges ahead while showcasing their unique style of play.

The Indian Women's Hockey Team is gearing up for this prestigious competition, which is slated for August this year, following the draw that was revealed on Tuesday evening.

Among the teams in their pool, China stands out as the top contender, currently holding the World No. 4 ranking. England, who recently triumphed over India in the finals of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers held in Hyderabad, are positioned at sixth. Meanwhile, India and South Africa are ranked ninth and nineteenth, respectively. The diverse playing styles in this group are sure to present an exciting challenge for the Indian squad.

“This pool is indeed very competitive and balanced. With teams like England and China bringing their rich experience and distinct playing styles, and the South African women's national field hockey team being unpredictable and dangerous, it will be a tough contest,” Marijne remarked.

“Regardless of the draw, our focus is on how we perform. At the World Cup, each match demands our utmost effort. We respect all our opponents, but our priority is to play our own style of hockey with consistency and courage,” he emphasized.

India recently secured second place in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Hyderabad, falling to England in the final. Despite this setback, there were many positives to take away, including finishing as the second-highest scorers in the tournament with a total of 11 goals, six of which came from penalty corners.

Reflecting on their performance, Marijne pushed the team to focus on continuous improvement and consistency, particularly in converting chances into goals, whether from field play or penalty corners. “We’ve made good progress in our offensive play, but the key is to convert our opportunities into goals. Additionally, we need to strengthen our defensive structures,” he stated.

Having previously led the team to a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Marijne returned to coach the squad in January. Discussing his vision for the future, he said, “We are committed to building a resilient, adaptable, and fearless team. Qualifying was just the first step; we aim for much more. We've taken initial strides in the right direction, but there's still a long road ahead for success.”

As the team prepares for the upcoming tournament, Marijne highlighted their extensive preparation, stating, “We have an upcoming tour to the USA and Argentina, followed by the Nations Cup in New Zealand and practice matches in Germany. We will also play several matches in the Netherlands. This combination of scheduled games and training camps will set us up well for the World Cup and the Asian Games.”