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Sreejesh said that his coaching journey appeared to be ending after just one and a half years despite consistent success with the team. He stated that while coaches are usually removed after poor performances, this was the first time he was witnessing a coach being replaced to accommodate a foreign appointment.

Indian hockey legend PR Sreejesh shared an emotional social media post raising questions over Hockey India's continued preference for foreign coaches on Wednesday. Sreejesh, who was appointed coach of the Indian junior men's hockey team after the 2024 Olympics, hinted that he was being removed from the role to make way for a foreign coach despite impressive results during his tenure. Under his guidance, the Indian junior team secured podium finished in five tournament, including a bronze medal at the Junior World Cup.

Sreejesh said that his coaching journey appeared to be ending after just one and a half years despite consistent success with the team. He stated that while coaches are usually removed after poor performances, this was the first time he was witnessing a coach being replaced to accommodate a foreign appointment.

The former India goalkeeper also revealed that the Hockey India President had informed that the chief coach of the senior men's team preferred a foreign head coach for the junior side. He said that the reason given was that a foreign coach would help create a stronger pathway for Indian hockey players from the junior level to the senior team.

Sreejesh questioned whether Indian coaches were not capable of developing Indian hockey. He further recalled a meeting with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on March 17, 2026 where he was reportedly told that Indian needed coaches like him to help prepare the country for the 2036 Olympics. However, he pointed out that Hockey Indian continues to trust foreign coaches across all four national teams.