PR Sreejesh, the esteemed goalkeeper for the Indian national men’s hockey team, has his eyes set on a future position as the chief coach for the national side. As he approaches the end of his illustrious playing career as a four-time Olympian, Sreejesh is resolutely focused on the forthcoming Paris Olympics and is not yet ready to make a decision regarding retirement.
In an interview with PTI, Sreejesh expressed his reluctance to forecast his future beyond the Paris Olympics. However, he is unequivocal in his determination to continue his involvement in the sport after retiring. “For me, this Olympics is really important because at this age it is really hard for me to talk about the next four-year cycle,” he stated. “From the last Olympics, I was only taking one year at a time. The rest decision comes after the Olympics.”
At 36 years old, Sreejesh remains in prime physical condition, evident in his impressive performance on the beep test. He is confident in his ability to contribute more to the team and is upbeat about his prospects for future involvement in Indian hockey. “After my career, I will take a break for sure,” he noted. “I want to improve myself, I want to see myself as a coach or a chief coach of the Indian national hockey team at that time because by then I will be more experienced.”
Reflecting on India’s recent success at the Tokyo Olympics, where the team secured a historic bronze medal, Sreejesh expressed confidence in the current squad’s potential to achieve even greater results in Paris. “The goal every time for an athlete is to win a gold medal in the Olympics, but you need to consider the realistic factors,” he reflected. “I believe that we have the potential to finish on the podium for sure, but you can’t be overconfident.”
Sreejesh also acknowledged the significance of mental conditioning in Olympic preparation, citing the presence of esteemed mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton as a valuable asset for the team’s psychological readiness. “The Olympics is not a normal platform. It’s a pressure venue, it’s a magical world, it’s a festival,” he emphasised. “Paddy was a part of the cricket team when we won the World Cup in 2011. He is an experienced professional who can assist us in making wise choices and clearing our mental confusion.”
Looking ahead to the team’s upcoming tours to Australia and Belgium for the Pro League, Sreejesh stressed the importance of these preparations as the team hones its strategies and assesses its performance against top international competition. “The upcoming Australia tour will be the last kind of preparation where everyone will get an opportunity,” he explained. “Overall, it’s a sort of rehearsal before the Olympics.”
As the Indian national men’s hockey team continues its journey towards the Paris Olympics, Sreejesh is unwavering in his dedication to his role as a leader and mentor for the team, with a clear vision for his future involvement in the sport beyond his playing career. His aspirations to take on a coaching role reflect his commitment to the development and success of Indian hockey, and his wealth of experience makes him a valuable asset to the future of the sport.