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NEW DELHI: Indian hockey fable PR Sreejesh has escalated his nationalist disagreement with Hockey India, posting a crisp effect aft the federation defended its determination not to renew his declaration arsenic inferior men’s squad coach.The two-time Olympic medallist, whose 17-month stint ended aft India’s bronze-medal decorativeness astatine the Junior World Cup, utilized societal media to straight situation comments made by Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey.“When the Hockey India president offered maine the improvement team, I asked a fewer elemental questions: Do we truly person a improvement team? Who are the players successful this improvement group? What is the operation of the program? What camps are approved for them? What tournaments are they preparing for? There were nary answers to immoderate of these questions,” Sreejesh wrote.
Sreejesh questions foreign-heavy setup
Sreejesh besides questioned the federation’s coaching structure, highlighting what helium called the expanding reliance connected overseas staff.“After winning a Junior World Cup bronze medal arsenic main coach, making maine a goalkeeper manager again — is that considered a promotion oregon a demotion?” helium asked.He past listed the existent setup: 4 teams, six overseas coaches, 3 overseas spot and conditioning coaches, 1 overseas video analyst, 2 visiting overseas goalkeeper coaches and 1 visiting overseas sports psychologist.
“Lucky that astatine slightest we inactive person 1 Indian manager successful each team,” helium added, successful a pointed remark.The erstwhile goalkeeper besides referenced inferior and younker pathways, suggesting adjacent under-18 teams could soon determination successful the aforesaid direction.“Sardar Singh and Rani Rampal are doing a large job, but possibly the president feels they are inactive not experienced capable oregon qualified capable to manager Indian teams. So tin we expect much overseas coaches determination arsenic well?”
Hockey India’s defence
Hockey India has denied immoderate bias, insisting Sreejesh’s declaration simply expired successful December 2025 and that a modular exertion process was followed. The federation appointed Frederic Soyez arsenic the caller inferior men’s manager connected Thursday.Tirkey said Sreejesh was offered a relation starring the improvement squad and a broader goalkeeping assignment, but the erstwhile prima declined.Sreejesh had earlier alleged that elder manager Craig Fulton preferred a overseas manager for the inferior side, a assertion Hockey India rejected.The speech has present go 1 of Indian hockey’s astir high-profile nationalist disputes, with 1 of its top players openly challenging the federation implicit opportunities for Indian coaches.
