KUALA LUMPUR – Despite being known as the “most decorated Indian hockey player of all time”, Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran remains unsatisfied with his achievements and is now determined to chase Olympic gold for his country from the sidelines as a coach.
The 36-year-old goalkeeper, who has made a total of 336 appearances for India, recently wrapped up his 13-year international career in style, securing a bronze medal at this year’s Paris Olympics with an impressive 92% save rate over eight matches.
Following his retirement from international hockey after the Olympics, Sreejesh joined the coaching staff under Indian head coach Craig Fulton, with his first assignment being the Sultan of Johor Cup (SoJC).
Under Sreejesh’s guidance, the junior Indian hockey team finished third in the SoJC, defeating New Zealand on penalties.
Speaking to Scoop from Bengaluru, Sreejesh, who holds two Olympic bronze medals, said that his young charges, with an average age of 19, have the potential to transition into a gold medal-winning team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
For the record, India is the most successful team in Olympic hockey history, having won a total of 13 medals (8 golds, 1 silver, and 4 bronzes) since their first appearance in 1928.
“I have earned numerous accolades throughout my 13-year career, yet I still feel unfulfilled. My failure to secure an Olympic gold medal is a regret I carry with me.
“Although I have experienced it all as a player, I am starting anew and am committed to working ten times harder to achieve my goal of winning gold for India as a coach.
“The team has tremendous potential, and I aim to maximise it. Coach Fulton and I have been dedicated to providing the best training possible. As a coach, I’ve implemented the same regimen used for the senior team with the juniors, ensuring they train at least four to five days a week.
“We commenced our training in Bengaluru immediately after returning from the SOJC tournament. Our coaching team is dedicated to harnessing talent from across the nation and the India Hockey League, and we plan to build a new squad by integrating at least five or six young players for upcoming tournaments.
“Nothing will deter me from achieving my mission. I am committed to developing these junior players into senior athletes for LA 2028. With the current training programs in place, I have no doubt they will succeed if they match the effort of the current senior team,” said Sreejesh when contacted.
Sreejesh was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (India’s highest sporting honour) in 2021 and is only the second sportsperson from India to win the World Games Athlete of the Year for his role in the team’s bronze medal run in Tokyo.
The Kerala-born athlete also won back-to-back International Hockey Federation Goalkeeper of the Year awards in 2021 and 2022.
Meanwhile, Sreejesh noted that the SOJC was an eye-opener for him as a coach, highlighting areas for improvement ahead of their Junior Asia Cup (JAC) campaign.
“We performed well in the SOJC, but there is room for improvement, especially in defense. We will aim to secure the tournament title next year.
“Our primary focus now is the Junior Asia Cup (JAC). We are resolute in our pursuit of the championship and are committed to qualifying for the Junior World Cup (JWC) with the trophy in hand,” Sreejesh added.
The JAC is scheduled to take place in Muscat, Oman, from November 26 to December 4, serving as the JWC qualifying event, where the top six Asian teams will earn a spot. – November 5, 2024