Sreejesh voices frustration over junior coach tenure end

New Delhi, May 13, 2026 – Former Indian hockey goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh publicly expressed frustration on Wednesday over the end of his 17-month tenure as coach of the junior men's national team, claiming he was replaced to make way for a foreign coach despite leading the squad to five podium finishes.

Sreejesh, a double Olympic bronze medalist from the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games who retired after the latter, took charge of the under-21 team in August 2024. His contract concluded in December 2025 following the FIH Junior Men's World Cup, where India earned bronze on home soil in Tamil Nadu, its first such medal since the 2016 title. Under his guidance, the team also reached the final of the Sultan of Johor Cup, secured bronze there, and won gold at the Men's Junior Asia Cup 2024 in Muscat.

In a post on X, Sreejesh wrote, "It seems like my coaching career comes to an end after 1.5 years, during which we played 5 tournaments and secured 5 podium finishes, including a Junior World Cup bronze medal. I have heard about coaches getting fired after bad performances. But this is the first time I am experiencing being removed to make way for a foreign coach." He questioned Hockey...