Former India goalkeeper and junior men’s hockey team coach PR Sreejesh blasted Hockey India (HI) for not extending his contract and removing from his role after 17 months. Sreejesh alleged the federation’s preference for a foreign coach despite his successful stint.
However, Hockey India has rejected the charges and said Sreejesh was not “fired” from his role.
In a strongly-worded post on social media, Sreejesh said his stint came to an end despite the team winning five medals in five tournaments under him. His tenure ended after the junior World Cup, held in November-December last year.
Instead of extending Sreejesh’s contract, Hockey India decided to advertise the position. Sreejesh, who was first appointed in August 2024, had reapplied for the role.
“It’s seems like my coaching career comes to an end after 1.5 years, during which we played 5 tournaments and secured 5 podium finishes, including a Junior World Cup bronze medal,” Sreejesh posted on X.
“I have heard about coaches getting fired after bad performances. But this is the first time I am experiencing being removed to make way for a foreign coach.”
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey responding to the allegations clarified that the former goalkeeper was not “fired” from his role, stating that his tenure ended in December 2025 as per contract and that a new appointment was made following a formal selection process.
“Hockey India would like to officially state that the coaching term for P.R. Sreejesh was officially concluded as per contract in December 2025. After this, as per protocol the position was advertised and applicants were shortlisted and finalised as per a proper selection process basis merit,” Tirkey said in a statement issued by HI.
“A coach with distinguished qualification has been selected as a result of this process and will be announced shortly.”
Tirkey also said that Sreejesh had been offered the role of coach for the development team, which he turned down.
“We have in no terms ‘fired’ Sreejesh and in fact had offered him the position of Coach for the Development team which plays a critical role for LA 28 and the next olympic cycle as well.
“This would have furthered his experience and exposure as a coach. However, he did not accept this position despite being asked to reconsider the decision,” Tirkey also said.
Sreejesh, considered one of India’s greatest goalkeepers, questioned HI’s apparent preference for overseas coaches.
“The Hockey India President stated that the chief coach of the senior men’s team (Craig Fulton) prefers a foreign head coach for the junior team, believing it will help develop Indian hockey from the junior level through to the senior level.
“Hence, the continued preference for foreign coaches — Can’t Indian coaches develop Indian hockey?,” said Sreejesh.
The 38 year-old had won Olympic bronze medals at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Games before retiring from international hockey.
“On 07-03-2026, during a meeting with the Hon’ble Sports Minister Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, I was told, ‘Sreejesh, we need coaches like you to step up and lead our country as we prepare for 2036.’ “However, Hockey India continues to place its trust in foreign coaches over Indian ones across all four teams,” Sreejesh said.
Tirkey, a former India captain and defender, rejected the comments and said no such communication had ever been made to Sreejesh.
“In no terms has it ever been conveyed to him that there has been any preference for a foreign coach by the chief coach. We are collectively working towards the vision of our government to build a pathway towards 2036 and a big part of that process is to develop our Indian coaching talent,” he said.
“Development of the grassroots and homegrown coaches has always been central to the interests of Hockey India as a national sports federation. Hockey India’s coaching pathway program has certified over 600 homegrown coaches so far and the program has had a nationwide impact.
“We have in fact aligned Indian coaches to our chief coaches in our training camps to enhance their exposure and skills further. Hockey India remains committed to the growth of Indian hockey and all our decisions are part of a concerted effort to achieve that.” During Sreejesh’s tenure with the under-21 side, India reached the final of the Sultan of Johor Cup, won bronze at the Junior World Cup on home soil and clinched the gold medal at the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2024 in Muscat.
“We continue to value P.R. Sreejesh as a legend of the sport and look forward to his future success,” Tirkey said.
