1 week ago
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A Junior World Cup medal aft 10 years seemingly isn’t bully capable for Hockey India with the federation deciding not to renew P.R. Sreejesh’s assignment arsenic the main coach.
Sreejesh, who was handed complaint of the inferior men’s broadside soon aft his status station the Paris Olympics, had been without declaration since December 2025. India won bronze playing astatine home, its archetypal medal since the 2016 rubric triumph.
“It seems similar my coaching vocation comes to an extremity aft 1.5 years, during which we played 5 tournaments and secured 5 podium finishes, including a Junior World Cup bronze medal. I person heard astir coaches getting fired aft atrocious performances. But this is the archetypal clip I americium experiencing being removed to marque mode for a overseas coach... Can’t Indian coaches make Indian hockey?” Sreejesh questioned successful a societal media station connected Wednesday.
“(Hockey India president) Dilip Tirkey told maine that Craig Fulton prefers a overseas manager due to the fact that it volition assistance successful coordination and processing a streamlined, azygous operation betwixt inferior and elder sides. I lone privation to cognize wherefore helium cannot coordinate with an Indian coach?” Sreejesh told The Hindu.
“I was told, ‘we request idiosyncratic experienced’ but did they not deliberation of it erstwhile they archetypal gave maine the responsibility? I had zero acquisition backmost then! Then they said, ‘we volition springiness you the improvement side’ but doesn’t deficiency of acquisition substance for the improvement broadside and bash we adjacent person a well-defined one?” Sreejesh further questioned.
While HI hasn’t made immoderate authoritative announcement, it has been learnt that federation has expressed its penchant for Frenchman Aymeric Bergamo, who led France to 3rd spot astatine the 2021 JWC. Interestingly, that is the lone accomplishment with a nationalist squad for Bergamo, who has since been associated with assorted European nine sides. Hockey India officials refused to talk connected the substance with caput wide Bhola Nath Singh lone saying, “I bash not privation to remark astatine this time”.
Sreejesh further alleged that respective radical successful the federation had categorically said they preferred an Indian coach, barring Tirkey. “On 1 had they perpetually speech astir processing Indian coaches and connected the other, they don’t springiness them immoderate responsibility. How bash you expect america to get experience? Shivendra has been with the Indian squad for much than 5 years and continues to beryllium an assistant, however his acquisition been rewarded? The inferior men’s squad was the lone 1 with an all-Indian unit and we produced results. I americium decidedly not the champion but I would similar to cognize however the incoming feline has amended credentials,” helium questioned.
HI refutes charges
In an authoritative statement, HI insisted that Fulton had nary relation to play successful the determination to not renew Sreejesh’s contract.
Stating that Sreejesh’s coaching word officially concluded arsenic per declaration successful December 2025, it said aft this, arsenic per protocol the presumption was advertised and applicants were shortlisted and finalised arsenic per a due merit-based enactment process.
“A manager with distinguished qualification has been selected arsenic a effect of this process and volition beryllium announced shortly,” HI said successful a statement.
HI further said, “We had offered Sreejesh the presumption of manager of the improvement team... This would person furthered his acquisition and vulnerability arsenic a coach. However, helium did not judge this presumption contempt being asked to reconsider the decision. In nary presumption has it ever been conveyed to him that determination has been immoderate penchant for a overseas manager by the main coach.
“We are collectively moving towards the imaginativeness of our authorities to physique a pathway towards 2036 and a large portion of that process is to make our Indian coaching talent. Development of the grassroots and home-grown coaches has ever been cardinal to the interests of Hockey India arsenic a nationalist sports federation”.
