This country is extremely difficult as a woman, says India women’s hockey team coach Janneke Schopmann

Indian senior women's hockey coach Janneke Schopmann has made a big claim. After India's 2-1 win over USA, via shootout, in the FIH Pro League match in Rourkela on Sunday (Feb 18), the46-year-old former Dutch playeralleged differential treatment meted out to her bythe administrators of the sport in India. She went onto add thatshe has felt all alone since taking over asthe head coach. Schopman furtherstated thather opinions have not been valued enough since taking over from Sjoerd Marijne.

‘I come from a culture where women are respected and valued,don’t feel that here’

Schopmansaid, "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."

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She further opined, "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," the Dutch woman added.

Schopman,who secured a gold medal with her national sideinBeijing Olympics, took over fromMarijne after the latter declined an extension offer. She served as the analytical coach for the women's hockey team in early 2020 but got elevated as the head coach following Tokyo Games.

The former Netherlands player pointed out, "Even when I was the assistant coach, some people wouldn't even look at me or wouldn't acknowledge me or wouldn't respond and then you become the chief coach and all of a sudden, people are interested in you. I struggled a lot with that. That is one thing."

Schopman has revealed thatshe is undecidedon whether to stay on as the head coach. However, she was quick to point out thatplayers want her to carry on and guide them.

"I'm going to reflect, 'did I do a good enough job, yes or no?'. I need to ask that myself. I have spoken to the players a little. I appreciate their opinion. They are the ones in charge. I think they need to want me to be there, that's the first decision. Also, I need to want to be there. Hockey India needs to want me to be there. At this point, I must say Dilip Tirkey has been very very supportive since the Asian Games and that, I have appreciated a lot. It's been tough for me, the team. I must say the support I haven't felt a lot in the last year so his support means a lot," she added.