Hockey India ne legendary goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh ki No. 16 jersey ko retire karne ka announcement kiya hai, jo unki India ke Olympic bronze medal jeetne mein crucial role ke liye hai. Ab Sreejesh junior national coach banenge aur future mein senior team coaching ki bhi aspirations rakhte hain.
Hockey India ne Wednesday ko announce kiya ki wo legendary goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh ki jersey number retire karenge, jo unki retirement ke baad kiya gaya hai. Sreejesh ne recently Paris Games mein India ko dusri consecutive Olympic bronze jeetane mein crucial role play kiya tha. Unki No. 16 jersey, jo unhone lagbhag do dashakon tak proudly pehni, senior national team ke liye retire ki jayegi.
Hockey India ke Secretary General, Bhola Nath Singh, ne yeh bhi bataya ki 36 saal ke Sreejesh junior national coach banenge. Lekin, No. 16 jersey junior players ke liye available rahegi. Singh ne ceremony ke dauran kaha, “Sreejesh junior team mein agle Sreejesh ko groom karenge, jo No. 16 jersey pehnega.”
Sreejesh, jo India ke long-time hero hain, ne apne coaching career ke liye 8 saal ka time frame set kiya hai. Unhone 2036 Olympics mein India ko coach karne ki ambition bhi express ki. “Main coach banna chahta hoon. Yeh hamesha mera plan tha lekin ab sawal hai ki kab. Retirement ke baad, family pehle aati hai. Mujhe unse baat karni hogi agar woh theek hain. Ab thoda apni wife ko bhi sunna padega,” Sreejesh ne PTI ko kaha.
“Jo main chahta hoon, wo yeh hai ki juniors se shuru karoon, aur Rahul Dravid iske ek example hain. Aap ek bunch of players develop karte hain, unhe senior team mein le jaate hain aur unhe aapke follow karne dete hain,” unhone kaha.
“Main is saal shuru karunga, 2025 mein junior World Cup hai aur agle do saalon mein senior team World Cup khel rahi hogi. Toh shayad 2028 tak main 20 ya 40 players develop kar sakoon aur 2029 tak senior team mein 15-20 players ho sakte hain, aur 2030 tak lagbhag 30-35 players senior side mein honge.
“Aur 2032 tak main chief coach ke position ke liye ready ho jaunga. Agar India ko 2036 Olympics host karne ka mauka milta hai, toh main India ka coach banna chahta hoon,” Sreejesh ne add kiya.
