Janneke Schopman’s tumultuous reign as India’s women’s hockey coach came to an abrupt end on Friday, leaving behind a trail of controversy and unanswered questions. While the team’s failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics played a role, Janneke Schopman's handling of veteran Rani Rampal's exclusion remains a contentious point.
Janneke Schopman claimed she informed Rani Rampal after the Olympics that “it was time” for her to step back. She elaborated on Rampal’s injury struggles, stating that although the player recovered, “she wasn’t good enough. She can’t run!” This explanation has drawn criticism, with many questioning its validity and sensitivity.
Schopman said, “Rani told me she played at the Tokyo Olympics injured. But she didn’t tell Sjoerd Marijne or me (at the Olympics itself). So I gave her a lot of time to recover. She was injured for a long time. She could only play one game since the medical staff said that she could not play back-to-back games in the Pro League. She played the game against Belgium, and that’s when I made the decision that she’s not good enough to play in the Hockey World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. That was a message she didn’t want to hear. She didn’t agree.”
“I supported her recovery and her rehab. I allowed her to leave the SAI campus and not be with the team because she couldn’t deal with all those things. If you’re a team player, you kind of need to be there. She was fit after that. But I didn’t think she was good enough. She can’t run!”
Rampal has maintained that she was fit to play and concurred with Schopman’s assessment.
Schopman’s resignation wasn’t solely rooted in the Rampal saga. She also leveled harsh criticism at Hockey India, expressing feelings of disrespect, lack of support, and unequal treatment compared to the men’s team.