Things were different when Sjoerd Marjen took charge of the Indian women’s hockey team four years ago. Many senior players were retiring. The team needed to be rebuilt and Marjen did a great job. Marjen is a big reason why we are happy to beat a strong team like Australia at the Tokyo Olympics today. Marjan has groomed and sculpted this team. Today, if India’s women’s hockey team is able to play on the biggest sports platform in the world, then Marjen is to be thanked for that.
Changed the way the team thought
Marjan himself has played field hockey for 10 years. Apart from the Indian women’s hockey team, she has also coached the men’s team. It was a challenge for her when she was made the coach of the Indian women’s team in 2017. Marjen is also a motivational speaker, so she knows how to instill enthusiasm in people, but what about skills… In such a situation, Marjen prepared a plan.
The most important thing was to change the mindset of the players. Much like Shahrukh Khan’s character ‘Kabir Khan’ in the movie ‘Chak De India’. After today’s victory, Marjen is being called the Kabir Khan of real life. Marjen wanted the girls not to be weak at any point in the match. It took some time for this to happen but the result is in front of us.
‘Kabir Khan’ of real life
Taking a team which didn’t win a single game in Rio 2016 to beating Australia to reach Semis in Tokyo 2020, take a bow Sjoerd Marijne. Applaud this man, award this man. The Real life Kabir Khan. #Hockey 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/pCFoy6AD9g
— Satyam Dwivedi (@DocDwivedi) August 2, 2021
Marjen’s tears after victory
#SjoerdMarijne hey coach this is for you , you are true indian hero🇮🇳❤️💓 1.3 billion people are singing this song right now 🇮🇳 @SjoerdMarijne we all love u very much 🤗🙏 pic.twitter.com/6DCgdXRkZY
— Harsh (@Harsh38752294) August 2, 2021
… slowly the effect of Marjen began to be seen
What did you think about the Olympics?
‘It will be too late to come home’
Sorry family , I coming again later 😊❤️ pic.twitter.com/h4uUTqx11F
— Sjoerd Marijne (@SjoerdMarijne) August 2, 2021
There was a demand to give Dronacharya Award to Marjan
Please, please nominate Sjoerd Marijne for the Dronacharya Award – what he has done with this team is unbelievable 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/wV4KzeOcoV
– Aniket Mishra (ik aniketmishra299) August 2, 2021