Janneke Schopman slams Indian culture following her resignation as women’s hockey chief coach

In a shocking turn of events, Janneke Schopman resigned from the role of India women’s hockey chief coach on Friday (February 23), blaming the country's culture. Schopman has been dealing with controversies and poor performances in recent times. However, in an explosive interview, she revealed the reason for stepping down from the role while leveling serious allegations against Hockey India, the country's governing body for the sport. 

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The former Dutch field hockey player lashed out at the federation for being biased against the women’s hockey team and players. She claimed that her team received less support than the men's team and that she felt disrespected on several occasions. The revelations came after India lost to the USA in the shootout in the Women's FIH Pro League 2023-24.

"Because I come from a culture where women are respected and valued. I don’t feel that here. From not very many people – and I do feel people working here on the ground are amazing from Hockey India. But I feel it’s so hard," the 46-year-old said. 

"I look at the difference in how men’s coaches are treated between me and the men’s coach, or the girls and the men’s team, just in general. They never complain and they work so hard. I am not saying, I don’t know, I don’t know why and I shouldn’t speak for them so I won’t.

"I love them. I think they work so hard, they do what I ask, they wanna learn, wanna do new things but for me personally coming from the Netherlands, having worked in the USA, this country is extremely difficult as a woman, coming from a culture where, yeah, you can have an opinion and it’s valued. It’s really hard," she added.

Schoepmann's resignation and claims have added to the turmoil in women's hockey, which in the past has been accused by many players and officials of mismanagement and corruption. Schopman's women finished the home leg of the FIH Pro League with two wins from seven matches.