India, Aug. 29 -- India women's hockey team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne on Friday insisted that his pre-World Cup leave did not compromise the team's preparations, asserting that he remained involved in every aspect of the build-up to the tournament in which India finished a creditable fifth.

Marijne's decision to take leave before the World Cup came under scrutiny in a section of the media.

The Dutchman, however, said the team's preparation remained on track with the support of his coaching staff.

"I have seen every training, match, done meetings and had personal contact with the players, so it was not that I didn't know what was going on," Marijne told PTI in an interview after India's World Cup campaign.

"People don't always know th...