Contract not renewed, Sreejesh questions preference for foreign coaches

A Junior World Cup medal after 10 years apparently isn’t good enough for Hockey India with the federation deciding not to renew P.R. Sreejesh’s appointment as the chief coach.

Sreejesh, who was handed charge of the junior men’s side soon after his retirement post the Paris Olympics, had been without contract since December 2025. India won bronze playing at home, its first medal since the 2016 title triumph.

“It 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. 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… Can’t Indian coaches develop Indian hockey?” Sreejesh questioned in a social media post on Wednesday.

“(Hockey India president) Dilip Tirkey told me that Craig Fulton prefers a foreign coach because it will help in coordination and developing a streamlined, uniform structure between junior and senior sides. I only want to know why he cannot coordinate with an Indian coach?” Sreejesh told The Hindu.

“I was told, ‘we need someone experienced’ but did they not think of it when they first gave me the responsibility? I had zero experience back then! Then they said, ‘we will give you the development side’ but doesn’t lack of experience matter for the development side and do we even have a well-defined one?” Sreejesh further questioned.

While HI hasn’t made any official announcement, it has been learnt that federation has expressed its preference for Frenchman Aymeric Bergamo, who led France to third place at the 2021 JWC. Interestingly, that is the only achievement with a national team for Bergamo, who has since been associated with various European club sides. Hockey India officials refused to speak on the matter with secretary general Bhola Nath Singh only saying, “I do not wish to comment at this time”.

Sreejesh further alleged that several people in the federation had categorically said they preferred an Indian coach, barring Tirkey. “On one had they constantly talk about developing Indian coaches and on the other, they don’t give them any responsibility. How do you expect us to get experience? Shivendra has been with the Indian team for more than five years and continues to be an assistant, how his experience been rewarded? The junior men’s team was the only one with an all-Indian staff and we produced results. I am definitely not the best but I would like to know how the incoming guy has better credentials,” he questioned.

HI refutes charges

In an official statement, HI insisted that Fulton had no role to play in the decision to not renew Sreejesh’s contract.

Stating that Sreejesh’s coaching term officially concluded as per contract in December 2025, it said after this, as per protocol the position was advertised and applicants were shortlisted and finalised as per a proper merit-based selection process.

“A coach with distinguished qualification has been selected as a result of this process and will be announced shortly,” HI said in a statement.

HI further said, “We had offered Sreejesh the position of coach of the development team… 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. 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. Development of the grassroots and home-grown coaches has always been central to the interests of Hockey India as a national sports federation”.