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Hockey India, the Indian body overseeing hockey in the country, on Wednesday, August 14 retired veteran goalkeeper, PR Sreejesh’s jersey number 16, who announced retirement from the sport after the 2024 Paris Olympics. This move by Hockey India comes to celebrate an 18-year-long career of the legend, who helped Indian secure back-to-back bronze medals at the Olympic Games, etching this feat for the first time in 52 years.
“Hockey India retires the No. 16 jersey from the senior men’s team, dedicated to PR Sreejesh,” said Hockey India Secretary, Bhola Nath.
Watch Hockey India retire Jersey No. 16 to honour PR Sreejesh:
PR Sreejesh appointed coach of men’s junior team
While Sreejesh’s retirement marks an end to a significant chapter in Indian men’s hockey, he is set to cement his position after he moves on to the next chapter as coach. Although Hockey India might have retired PR Sreejesh’s jersey, they also announced his appointment as coach of men’s junior team. The 36-year-old who has time and again spoken of contributing to hockey, will take up the duties as coach, following a coaching path inspired by former India cricketer Rahul Dravid.
“Sreejesh is now going to be the junior team coach and we are retiring the No. 16 jersey for the senior team. We are not retiring No. 16 for the junior team,” Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh said at a felicitation function. “Sreejesh dusra Sreejesh ko paida karega in junior team (Sreejesh will groom someone like him in the junior team),” he further added.
Earlier, Sreejesh in an interview with PTI had stated, “I want to become a coach. That was always my plan but now there is a question of when. After retirement, family comes first. I need to talk with them if they are ok with this. Now you have to listen to your wife a little bit.” “The way I wanted is to start with the juniors, and Rahul Dravid is an example. It’s like you develop a bunch of players, get them into the senior team, and let them follow you,” he further added highlight his next phase.
