PR Sreejesh questions Hockey India decision after junior men’s coach role ends

Former India goalkeeper and junior men’s team coach PR Sreejesh has criticised Hockey India for ending his tenure after 17 months, citing five medals from five tournaments, including a Junior World Cup bronze. He questioned the preference for foreign coaches, while Hockey India rejected the allegation and chose to advertise the role rather than renew his contract.

Former India goalkeeper and junior men’s team coach PR Sreejesh said on Wednesday that Hockey India removed Sreejesh after 17 months. Sreejesh questioned the federation’s reported tilt towards foreign coaches. Hockey India rejected the charge. Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said the contract ended in December 2025. Dilip Tirkey said a formal hiring process followed.

In a strong post on X, Sreejesh said the stint ended despite results. Sreejesh said the team won medals in every event during the period. The run finished after the junior World Cup in November-December last year. Hockey India advertised the role instead of extending the deal. Sreejesh had re-applied after first joining in August 2024.

Hockey India junior coach dispute and PR Sreejesh post

"Its 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,\" Sreejesh posted on X. \"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.\"

Sreejesh also referred to a meeting with the Sports Minister. \"On 07-03-2026, during a meeting with the Honble 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.\" Sreejesh added that Hockey India backed foreign coaches across all four teams.

Hockey India junior coach decision and Dilip Tirkey response

Dilip Tirkey said the federation did not sack Sreejesh. \"Hockey India would like to officially state that the coaching term for P.R. Sreejesh was officially concluded as per contract in December 2025. After this, as per protocol the position was advertised and applicants were shortlisted and finalised as per a proper selection process basis merit,\" Tirkey said in a statement issued by HI.

Tirkey said a replacement was selected and would be named soon. \"A coach with distinguished qualification has been selected as a result of this process and will be announced shortly.\" Tirkey also said Hockey India offered Sreejesh other roles. Tirkey said Sreejesh declined those options despite being asked again.

\"We have in no terms fired Sreejesh and in fact had offered him the position of Coach for the Development team which plays a critical role for LA 28 and the next olympic cycle as well. This would have furthered his experience and exposure as a coach. However, he did not accept this position despite being asked to reconsider the decision.\"

Tirkey later said more offers were made to keep Sreejesh involved. \"We never wanted him to come out of the coaching programme, we offered him to lead the developmental programme India A and beyond that. Besides that we offered him to guide our goalkeepers at the national level with his vast experience, but he refused,\" Tirkey said.

A Hockey India source said Sreejesh was also offered the senior men’s team goalkeeping coach role. Sreejesh, 38, is seen as one of India’s top goalkeepers. Sreejesh won Olympic bronze at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Games. Sreejesh retired from international hockey after the Paris Olympics.

Hockey India foreign coaches debate and junior team pathway

Sreejesh said the senior men’s chief coach Craig Fulton wanted a foreign Under-21 head coach. Sreejesh said this was meant to link junior and senior progress. \"Hence, the continued preference for foreign coaches -- Cant Indian coaches develop Indian hockey?,\" said Sreejesh. Tirkey rejected that claim and said no such message was given.

\"In no terms has it ever been conveyed to him that there has been any preference for a foreign coach by the chief coach. We are collectively working towards the vision of our government to build a pathway towards 2036 and a big part of that process is to develop our Indian coaching talent,\" Tirkey said.

Hockey India said grassroots work and local coaching growth remained key. Hockey India said its coaching pathway programme certified over 600 Indian coaches. Tirkey said Indian coaches were attached to chief coaches in camps. The aim was to build skills through exposure. Tirkey said decisions matched a wider plan for Indian hockey.

During Sreejesh’s Under-21 stint, India reached the Sultan of Johor Cup final. India won bronze at the Junior World Cup at home. India also won gold at the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2024 in Muscat. \"We continue to value P.R. Sreejesh as a legend of the sport and look forward to his future success,\" Tirkey said.

Hockey India Under-21 coach race and Frederic Soyez

Frederic Soyez, France’s coach at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has become the frontrunner. Soyez is in the mix for India’s Under-21 men’s head coach job. \"He Soyez is a frontrunner but nothing has been decided yet,\" a Hockey India source said. Hockey India has not announced the final appointment.

Soyez is 48 and played for France from 1995 to 2010. Soyez later moved into coaching roles with France and Spain. Soyez guided Spain to fifth place at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Soyez is known for penalty corner work. Soyez also served as France Hockey’s High Performance Director from 2021 to 2024.

The dispute has placed focus on Hockey India’s coaching choices and selection process. Sreejesh has linked the move to foreign coach preference. Hockey India has said the contract period ended and offers were made for other roles. The federation has also pointed to its coach development work. A new Under-21 head coach is expected to be announced.

With inputs from PTI