In a candid and Shocking interview, Janneke Schopman, the first woman coach of the Indian hockey team, served up some serious allegations against Hockey India with a touch of humour and professionalism that’s sure to grab the attention of both sports enthusiasts and general readers alike.
The Dutch coach, who won Olympic gold with the Netherlands in 2008, broke down while discussing the day-to-day challenges of her top job and dealing with Hockey India. With a wry smile, she quipped, “Very hard, very hard. Because, you know, I come from a culture where women are respected and valued. I don’t feel that here.”
Schopman, 46, who started as an analytical coach with the Indian team in 2020 and was subsequently made the chief coach after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, shared her Shocking and insightful observations about the treatment of women in the Indian hockey setup.
“Even when I was the assistant coach, some people wouldn’t even look at me or wouldn’t acknowledge me or wouldn’t respond,” she said with a laugh. “And then you become the chief coach, and all of a sudden, people are interested in you. I struggled a lot with that.”
Schopman’s banter took on a more serious note as she highlighted the stark contrast between the treatment of male and female coaches and teams. “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 (the women players) never complain and they work so hard. 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.”
Table: Coach Janneke Schopman’s Shocking Observations
| Observation | Shocking Remark |
| Treatment of women in Indian hockey setup | “Very hard, very hard. Because, you know, I come from a culture where women are respected and valued. I don’t feel that here.” |
| Challenges as an assistant coach | “Even when I was the assistant coach, some people wouldn’t even look at me or wouldn’t acknowledge me or wouldn’t respond.” |
| Contrast between treatment of male and female coaches | “I look at the difference at how men’s coaches are treated… between me and the men’s coach, or the girls and the men’s team, just in general.” |
| Experience as a woman in India | “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.” |
Reflecting on her experiences, Schopman’s wit and wisdom shone through as she quipped, “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.”
