‘We did not fire Sreejesh’: Hockey India responds after legend's explosive allegation

NEW DELHI: Hockey India has issued a elaborate effect aft Indian hockey fable PR Sreejesh publically questioned the federation’s continued spot successful overseas coaches, saying his declaration arsenic inferior men’s manager had simply ended and that helium was ne'er “fired”.The connection came hours aft Sreejesh posted a strongly-worded connection connected societal media, claiming helium was removed contempt 5 podium finishes successful 5 tournaments and alleging helium had been replaced to marque mode for a overseas coach.

Hockey India denies removing PR Sreejesh

Responding to the controversy, Hockey India said Sreejesh’s coaching word had officially concluded successful December 2025 arsenic per declaration and that the station was past advertised successful accordance with modular procedure.“The coaching word for P.R. Sreejesh was officially concluded arsenic per declaration successful December 2025. After this, arsenic per protocol the presumption was advertised and applicants were shortlisted and finalised arsenic per a due enactment process ground merit,” the federation said.It added that a caller manager had been selected based connected qualifications and would beryllium announced soon.The federation powerfully denied Sreejesh’s assertion that helium was removed.

“We person successful nary presumption ‘fired’ Sreejesh,” the connection said.Alternative relation offered for Olympic cycleHockey India revealed that Sreejesh had alternatively been offered the relation of manager for the improvement team, which it described arsenic a cardinal portion of India’s mentation for the 2028 Summer Olympics and the broader 2036 Olympic roadmap.“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,” it added.The federation besides denied that elder men’s manager Craig Fulton had asked for a overseas inferior coach.“In nary presumption has it ever been conveyed to him that determination has been immoderate penchant for a overseas manager by the main coach,” the connection read.

Sreejesh’s nationalist challenge

Earlier, Sreejesh had claimed his palmy stint had ended unexpectedly aft conscionable 1 and a fractional years, contempt winning medals successful each tournament.“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,” helium wrote.He besides asked the question that has sparked statement crossed Indian hockey: “Can’t Indian coaches make Indian hockey?”Under Sreejesh, India won the Men's Junior Asia Cup, secured bronze astatine the FIH Junior Men's World Cup and finished connected the podium successful each 5 events.Federation defends Indian manager pathwayHockey India said processing Indian coaches remains cardinal to its plans.It claimed its coaching pathway programme has already certified implicit 600 homegrown coaches nationwide and insisted that Indian coaches are regularly integrated with elder grooming camps to amended exposure.“We proceed to worth P.R. Sreejesh arsenic a fable of the athletics and look guardant to his aboriginal success,” the federation said, adjacent arsenic the nationalist disagreement has opened a wider statement implicit India’s coaching absorption up of the adjacent Olympic cycle.