Indian women’s hockey team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne has set an ambitious target for his second stint with the national side, saying his ultimate goal is to guide India to a historic medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games after narrowly missing the podium in Tokyo.

The Dutch coach, who returned to helm the Indian women’s team earlier this year, believes the squad has the potential to achieve one of the biggest milestones in the country’s hockey history. Having previously overseen India’s remarkable run to a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Marijne now hopes to build on that success and convert the team’s progress into an Olympic medal.

Under Marijne’s guidance between 2017 and 2021, the Indian women’s team produced its finest-ever Olympic performance. Entering the Tokyo Games as underdogs, India stunned several higher-ranked opponents to reach the semifinals for the first time in history before narrowly losing the bronze medal match to Great Britain. Although the team missed out on a podium finish, its spirited campaign transformed perceptions of women’s hockey in India and inspired a new generation of players.

Reflecting on his return, Marijne said the experience of Tokyo remains a major source of motivation and that the objective this time is to take the final step toward winning an Olympic medal.

“My biggest goal is to win a medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. We came very close in Tokyo, and now we want to build on that experience and go one step further,” Marijne said.

The coach acknowledged that achieving success at the Olympics requires consistent performances over several years rather than focusing solely on the Games themselves. He stressed the importance of improving the team’s overall standards through international competition, better tactical execution and continuous player development.

According to Marijne, the immediate focus will be on strengthening the team’s fundamentals while preparing for major tournaments leading up to the Olympics. He believes sustained progress at events such as the Asian Games, FIH Hockey Pro League, World Cup and continental championships will be crucial in building a squad capable of challenging the world’s top teams.

The Dutchman also highlighted the importance of developing young talent alongside experienced players. He said India possesses a strong pool of promising athletes and that creating healthy competition for places in the national team would help raise performance standards.

Marijne’s return has generated optimism within Indian hockey circles, given his familiarity with the players and his previous success with the team. During his earlier tenure, he played a significant role in improving the fitness, tactical awareness and confidence of the Indian side, enabling it to compete on equal terms with traditional powerhouses.

Since the Tokyo Olympics, the Indian women’s team has experienced periods of transition, with changes in coaching staff and personnel. Marijne believes restoring consistency and maintaining a clear long-term vision will be key to achieving sustained success on the international stage.

He also emphasised the need for mental resilience, describing it as one of the defining qualities required to compete at the highest level. According to him, winning crucial matches often depends as much on confidence and composure as on technical ability.

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The coach said every training session, international tour and tournament over the next three years would be viewed as part of the team’s preparation for Los Angeles 2028. Building depth in the squad, managing player workloads and ensuring continuous improvement will remain among his priorities.

India has made steady progress in women’s hockey over the past decade, with improved performances at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian competitions reflecting the growing strength of the programme. The fourth-place finish in Tokyo remains the team’s best Olympic result and demonstrated that India can compete with the world’s leading hockey nations.

Marijne believes the challenge now is to convert that progress into medals at the biggest stage. While acknowledging that competition at the Olympics will be intense, he expressed confidence that the Indian team has both the talent and determination to achieve its long-term objective.

With three years remaining before the Los Angeles Games, the Dutch coach is focused on building a disciplined, competitive and confident squad capable of creating history. For Marijne and the Indian women’s hockey team, the target is clear—return to the Olympic stage in 2028 and finish on the podium.