Sreejesh Claims Departure from Junior Hockey Coaching for Foreign Coach
Sreejesh Claims Departure for Foreign Coach
PR Sreejesh, a former Indian goalkeeper and two-time Olympic bronze medalist, has expressed that his role as the coach of the India men's junior hockey team has concluded due to Hockey India's decision to appoint a foreign coach. Sreejesh, who took on the coaching position after the 2024 Olympics, shared his thoughts in a post on the social media platform X.
In his message, Sreejesh reflected on his coaching journey, highlighting that the team achieved podium finishes in all five tournaments they participated in during his tenure, including a bronze medal at the Junior World Cup held in Chennai and Madurai in 2025. He noted, "It appears my coaching career has ended after 1.5 years, during which we played five tournaments and secured five podium finishes, including a Junior World Cup bronze medal."
Concerns Over Removal Despite Success
Sreejesh expressed his surprise at being removed despite the team's positive outcomes, stating that he had heard of coaches being dismissed after poor performances, but this was his first experience of being replaced to make room for a foreign coach. He remarked, "I have heard of coaches being fired after bad performances, but this is the first time I am experiencing being removed to accommodate a foreign coach."
Questioning the Preference for Foreign Coaches
He also mentioned that according to Hockey India president Dilip Kumar Tirkey, the senior men's team coach, Craig Fulton, prefers a foreign coach for the junior team, believing it would foster a more consistent development pathway from junior to senior hockey. Sreejesh questioned this approach, asking why Indian coaches cannot also contribute to the development of Indian hockey. He stated, "The Hockey India President mentioned that the chief coach of the senior men's team prefers a foreign head coach for the junior team, believing it will help develop Indian hockey from the junior level through to the senior level. Hence, the continued preference for foreign coaches -- Can't Indian coaches develop Indian hockey?"
During a meeting with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Sreejesh was encouraged to take on a more significant leadership role, with the minister emphasizing the need for coaches like him to prepare for the goals set for 2036. However, he alleged that Hockey India still favors foreign coaches for all four teams, including the senior and junior men's and women's squads. He recounted, "On 07-03-2026, during a meeting with the Hon'ble Sports Minister Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, I was told, 'Sreejesh, we need coaches like you to step up and lead our country as we prepare for 2036.' However, Hockey India continues to place its trust in foreign coaches over Indian ones across all four teams."