Indian Women’s Hockey Coach Janneke Schopman Resigns After Alleging Discrimination

Janneke Schopman, head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, abruptly resigned on February 23rd, citing unequal treatment by sports administrators.

Just days prior, she had publicly expressed feeling undervalued and disrespected compared to her male counterparts.

Hockey India confirmed the resignation in a statement, expressing their intention to find a new coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.

“Janneke Schopman, the Chief Coach of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team, has tendered her resignation from the position. The Dutch coach formally submitted her resignation to Hockey India President Padma Shri Dr. Dilip Tirkey following the conclusion of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team’s participation in the home leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League in Odisha” FIH said in an official statement.

Schopman took over after India’s historic fourth-place finish in Tokyo, leading the team through a mix of triumphs and disappointments.

Schopman’s emotional resignation stemmed from perceived gender bias.

During a post-match interview, she tearfully spoke of feeling “extremely difficult as a woman” in India, contrasting it with her experiences in other countries where her opinions were valued.

She highlighted the disparity in treatment she observed between herself and the men’s coach, and between the women’s and men’s teams.

“In my native culture, women are deeply respected and appreciated. Regrettably, I haven’t experienced the same level of regard here. While I acknowledge the dedication of many individuals within Hockey India, overall, I find the situation challenging,” expressed Schopman, as reported by The New Indian Express.

“Observing the discrepancies in treatment between male and female coaches, as well as the contrasting conditions for the women’s and men’s teams, is disheartening. The male counterparts exhibit admirable perseverance without complaint. I refrain from speculating on their experiences, but I feel compelled to highlight the disparities.”

Despite the team’s recent miss in Olympic qualification, Schopman’s tenure saw several achievements. This includes bronze medals at the Asian and Commonwealth Games, a third-place finish in the Pro League, and winning the inaugural FIH Women’s Nations Cup.

Schopman’s resignation sparks important conversations about gender equality in Indian sports. Hockey India faces the challenge of finding a new coach while addressing the concerns raised about discrimination.