Olympian P.R. Sreejesh expressed his ‘disappointment’ on India’s dismal eight-place finishes in the Men’s FIH Pro League standings over the last two seasons.
“I’m not against Indian hockey. I’m disappointed because I care,” Sreejesh said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“My hockey knowledge may be limited, and this is just my opinion. (Armchair coaches, you can skip this.) 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 strategys.”
Sreejesh had earlier taken to the platform to slam Hockey India for not giving him a longer rope in the junior head coach role, replacing him with decorated Frenchman Frederic Soyez. Sreejesh has led the junior team to a bronze medal finish at the Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup.
“Yes, we won the Asian Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. Congratulations to the team. But let’s be honest: those tournaments are no longer the benchmark for judging where Indian hockey stands globally.
“Now the usual explanation will be: ‘We’re focusing on the Asian Games because it’s the Olympic qualifier.’ That’s understandable—but the Pro League table doesn’t lie. It showed exactly where we stand against the world’s best.
“Our junior team can beat Pakistan, it also shows the gap between India and the rest of Asia. Winning Asian tournaments is expected. The real challenge is consistently competing with the top teams in the world,” he said.
The 38-year-old questioned the funds being spent on retaining a foreign coach given the results generated.
“So here’s the question : Are we spending €24,286 ( approximately INR 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? Being satisfied with regional success while struggling against the world’s elite shouldn’t be the standard for Indian hockey,” he added in his post.
He further stressed that his criticism does not stem from opposition to Indian hockey but from a desire for higher standards, saying that true support involves asking tough questions rather than accepting regional success alongside continued struggles against the world’s elite.
Published on Jul 02, 2026
