PR Sreejesh Questions Investment in Foreign Coach After India's Pro League Struggles
Two-time Olympic medallist PR Sreejesh has expressed disappointment over India’s performances in the FIH Pro League, pointing to successive eighth-place finishes as a sign of declining standards. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sreejesh stated that his criticism stems from care for Indian hockey, not opposition.
“I’m not against Indian hockey. I’m disappointed because I care,” he wrote. “The last two FIH Pro League seasons have exposed the reality—we finished 8th. If not for Ireland and Pakistan, the standings could have looked even worse. Don’t tell me that we are trying new players or we are applying new strategies.”
Sreejesh’s comments come days after he publicly criticised Hockey India for appointing French coach Frederic Soyez as junior men’s head coach instead of extending his own tenure. Under Sreejesh, the junior team won bronze at the Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup.
In his latest post, the former goalkeeper argued that recent continental titles should not mask struggles against top global teams. “Yes, we won the Asian Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. But let’s be honest: those tournaments are no longer the benchmark for judging where Indian hockey stands globally. The Pro League table doesn’t lie. It showed exactly where we stand against the world’s best. Winning Asian tournaments is expected. The real challenge is consistently competing with the top teams in the world,” he said.
The 38-year-old also questioned the return on investment in a foreign head coach. “So here’s the question: are we spending €24,286 (approximately Rs 25 lakh) a month on a foreign chief coach just to dominate Asian competitions? Or are we investing to become a genuine medal contender at the World Cup, Pro League, and Olympics?”
India’s senior men’s team, coached by Craig Fulton, won bronze at the Paris Olympics after finishing seventh in the 2023-24 Pro League. The team is currently preparing for upcoming tournaments. Sreejesh, who retired after the Paris Games, has been an outspoken figure on Indian hockey’s direction.
