“Start with the juniors” - PR Sreejesh wants to follow Rahul Dravid’s footsteps in coaching after Paris Olympics success 

Legendary hockey player PR Sreejesh wants to take cues from Rahul Dravid’s career as he gears up for his role as the coach of the Indian junior team. Sreejesh retired from international hockey after India won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics 2024.

As far as Dravid is concerned, the former Indian cricketer was appointed Team India's coach in late 2021. Under his tenure, India finished as the runner-up in the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup last year. He finished off on a high after India won the T20 World Cup 2024 to end their ICC trophy drought.

Dravid was also the coach of the India U19 team that won the World Cup in 2018. Sreejesh said that he wanted to work at the grassroots level before taking charge of big teams.

"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," PR Sreejesh told PTI.

"The way I wanted is start with the juniors, and Rahul Dravid is an example. It is like you develop a bunch of players, get them into the senior team and let them follow you," Sreejesh added.

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PR Sreejesh, India shine at Paris Olympics 2024

Back in 2021, PR Sreejesh was a part of the team that ended India’s 41-year-long wait to win a medal in hockey at the Olympics and the goalkeeper finished his career with consecutive bronze medals. India finished second in their Pool and also defeated Australia, a team that beat them in the Commonwealth Games 2022.

In the semi-final, Harmanpreet Singh and Co. lost to Germany but made amends after beating Spain 2-1 in the bronze-medal clash. Sreejesh returned to India on Wednesday and was greeted with loud cheers in Delhi.

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