Pro League Alert: Sreejesh Calls for India’s Hockey Resurgence

New Delhi: Former captain PR Sreejesh remarked
that finishing eighth and enduring seven consecutive losses
in the Pro League served as a crucial wake-up call for
India’s men’s hockey team, which failed to qualify for the
2026 World Cup through this elite nine-nation event.

“The players performed commendably and created numerous
opportunities. They put forth a solid effort on the field,
but sometimes the outcomes are against us. That’s what
happened. Unfortunately, the results did not favor us,
although our preparation was spot on,” said the double
Olympic bronze medallist during the 20th edition of the
Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, slated for October 12.

“The coaches have dedicated ample time to prepare the team
for the upcoming Asia Cup, which we are hosting. We are
looking forward to the year ahead, with both the Asian Games
and World Cup on the horizon. The Pro League was a strong
reminder for the team to stay vigilant and prepare for these
events.”

After missing the opportunity in the Pro League, the team,
now led by Harmanpreet Singh, can still secure a World Cup
berth if they triumph in the Asia Cup held in Rajgir from
August 27 to September 7.

While keeping an eye on his former team, Sreejesh’s main
focus now is leading the Indian junior team as head coach,
a role he took on after retiring following the Paris
Olympics. Under his guidance, the junior team clinched
bronze at the Sultan of Johor Cup and gold at the Junior
Asia Cup last year.

This year, following a four-nation tournament in Berlin and
a tour of Europe, Sreejesh’s team is gearing up for the
Sultan of Johor Cup in October and the pivotal Junior World
Cup in November-December. Sreejesh noted that the junior
players are transitioning from domestic to international
arenas, a phase marked by challenges.

“Our junior team is stepping onto the international stage,
from where we promote players to the senior level. It’s
crucial for them to understand international hockey and
integrate into this competitive space. Initially, they’ll
face struggles, as they’ve only experienced domestic-level
hockey so far,” Sreejesh stated.

“Introducing young talents to the international scene is a
challenging task for any junior-level coach. However, there
are numerous promising candidates who can ascend to the
senior team. Their greatest challenge is the Junior World
Cup, which presents a real test – unlike four-nation
tournaments and Test matches that don’t exert as much
pressure.”

The 37-year-old added that his role involved imparting his
experiences and insights on preparing for significant
tournaments, a responsibility he finds greatly fulfilling.

“Previously, the physical demands were intense. Now, it is
more of a mental challenge. Having faced considerable
pressure as a player, my role as a coach is to alleviate
that pressure from the players,” he concluded.