Former goalkeeper PR Sreejesh eyes coaching career following retirement
PR Sreejesh, the recently retired Indian hockey goalkeeper, has unveiled his plans to embark on a coaching career. Drawing inspiration from cricket icon Rahul Dravid, Sreejesh aims to shape his future in coaching. His retirement came after India secured a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking his second consecutive Olympic bronze following a similar win at the Tokyo Olympics three years earlier.
Sreejesh to begin coaching journey with junior team
Sreejesh is set to initiate his coaching career with the Indian junior hockey team. He expressed a desire to patiently cultivate a group of future players before considering a role as the national team's coach. "I want to become a coach. That was always my plan but now there is a question of when," Sreejesh shared in an interview with PTI. "The way I wanted is start with the juniors, and Rahul Dravid is an example," he added.
Sreejesh's plan for national team coaching
Sreejesh has outlined an eight-year plan before considering coaching the national team. He aims to produce 20 to 40 players by 2028, have 15-20 players in the senior team by 2029, and nearly 30-35 players in the senior side by 2030. "And 2032, I will be ready for the chief coach's position," he stated, revealing his long-term vision for Indian hockey.
Sreejesh's ultimate aspiration: Coaching at the Olympics
Sreejesh's ultimate goal is to coach India in an Olympic event. "If India gets to host the 2036 Olympic Games, I want to be the India coach," he expressed. This aspiration comes as part of his long-term vision for Indian hockey, which includes developing a robust feeder system for the national team and ensuring a continuous supply of top-tier players.
