Now Reading: Sreejesh demands accountability after India crash out of Hockey World Cup
-
01
Sreejesh demands accountability after India crash out of Hockey World Cup
PR Sreejesh has demanded accountability after India's men's and women's hockey teams failed to reach the semifinals of the FIH Hockey World Cup. The legendary goalkeeper said the tournament is not a…
PR Sreejesh has demanded accountability after India's men's and women's hockey teams failed to reach the semifinals of the FIH Hockey World Cup. The legendary goalkeeper said the tournament is not a "dress rehearsal" and called for a thorough review of the performances.
India's men's team, currently ranked fifth in the world, was eliminated in the quarterfinals after a 3-1 loss to Belgium. The women's team, ranked ninth, lost 2-1 to the Netherlands in the same stage.
Sreejesh's comments are the first major critique from a former player since the teams' early exits. Hockey India has not yet announced any review or changes to the coaching staff.
Indian Opinion Analysis
India's hockey programme has historically struggled to produce knockout results at the World Cup despite regular medal finishes at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. Hockey India and the Sports Authority of India jointly fund the national teams, and poor tournament outcomes typically trigger a performance review by the federation's technical committee. The next major international test for both teams is the FIH Pro League, which begins in November, and selection decisions from that event will shape the pool for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Sreejesh, who retired in 2024, was a key figure in India's bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, and his public call for change carries weight within the hockey community and among sponsors. Whether Hockey India orders a formal review or lets the current coaching staff continue without change remains to be seen.
Source: ndtvprofit.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
