Indian hockey legend PR Sreejesh has expressed his desire to draw inspiration from cricket icon Rahul Dravid as he embarks on his coaching journey following his retirement from international hockey. Sreejesh, who recently retired after India secured a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is eager to take a methodical approach to his new role as a coach.
Sreejesh ended his illustrious playing career with back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, having also clinched third place in Tokyo three years prior. Now, as he transitions into coaching, Sreejesh has been appointed to lead the Indian junior hockey team. However, he emphasized that he is in no rush to take over the senior national team, preferring instead to focus on nurturing young talent for the future.
The veteran goalkeeper has set himself a timeline of eight years before considering a role with the senior national team. His ultimate goal is to coach India at the 2036 Olympics, should the country host the event.
Sreejesh Outlines His Coaching Ambitions
“My goal has always been to become a coach,” Sreejesh shared in an interview with PTI. “But now it’s about figuring out the right timing. After retirement, my family comes first, so I need to discuss this with them and make sure they’re on board. At this stage, it’s important to listen to your family, especially your wife.”
Sreejesh sees Rahul Dravid, who famously took charge of India’s junior cricket teams before stepping up to the senior level, as a model for his coaching journey. “I want to start with the juniors, just like Dravid did. It’s about developing a group of players, guiding them into the senior team, and helping them follow in your footsteps,” he explained.
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Laying out his roadmap, Sreejesh added, “I’ll start coaching this year, and by 2025, we’ll have the Junior World Cup. In another two years, the senior team will be playing the World Cup. By 2028, I hope to have developed 20 to 40 players who could step into the senior team. By 2030, I aim to have 30 to 35 players ready for the senior side. And by 2032, I should be prepared to take on the role of chief coach. If India hosts the 2036 Olympic Games, I want to be the one leading the team.”
As for Rahul Dravid, he recently stepped down as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team following the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA. Dravid, who took over from Ravi Shastri in November 2021, was instrumental in India’s successes across all formats during his tenure.
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