For any athlete, representing the nation at a world championship is a dream come true – even whether it is an age-group occasion – however PR Sreejesh doesn’t need his wards to lose monitor of the long-term. Considered one of India’s biggest ever hockey gamers and at present the top coach of the Junior Males’s staff that can start their marketing campaign on the 2025 FIH Junior World Cup in Chennai later this month, Sreejesh urged the chosen 18 to do every thing they’ll to win the event, however extra importantly, to dream large.
“The one factor that I all the time inform these guys is to dream of 2028 (LA Olympics) or 2032 (Brisbane Olympics), as a result of these guys should not meant to be right here on this Junior setup endlessly. Their dream ought to be like taking part in on the Olympics inside the subsequent eight years,” Sreejesh instructed reporters on Friday after the announcement of the World Cup squad. “That is simply the most effective stepping stones for them, from the place they’ll kickstart their profession.”
“Even on this senior’s core group, there are loads of gamers who didn’t play a Junior World Cup, so it isn’t that vital. That is an added stepping stone. Take a look at Harman. Take a look at that bunch of gamers who got here from the 2016 Junior World Cup-winning staff. Take the 2001 Junior World Cup squad. Virtually 11 or 10 or 11 gamers right away jumped into the senior staff from there. So it is a place the place they achieve expertise since you’re taking part in a World Cup. You might be taking part in knockouts in entrance of an enormous crowd. That provides them expertise, strain administration, take up the challenges, and execute these easy, staple items underneath strain. So it is a stage for these individuals to rehearse effectively for his or her future careers.”
Story continues under this advert
However that shouldn’t take away from the ambition of climbing atop the rostrum. Having labored because the junior head coach since saying his retirement from worldwide hockey as a double-Olympic Video games bronze medallist in Paris, Sreejesh has travelled with this group of gamers, constructing a robust unit that has expertise of taking part in robust matches collectively. They just lately completed second on the Sultan of Johor Cup, shedding a detailed last in opposition to Australia.
“Once you go for a event, what do you anticipate? To win. And we’re coaching them to match up these expectations. We’re doing every thing to win the event in order that they get extra confidence. However the Junior World Cup is just not the tip for anyone’s profession. It’s simply the beginning. Rohit for instance, he’s 21. He’s not there for the subsequent Junior World Cup. So for him, that is the final alternative to win a Junior World Cup medal or to carry that cup. He’s the captain. So what does that seem like, how vital it’s for him… in order that’s what I’m telling them.”
Rohit, the defender-cum-dragflicker, has been main this unit so there was no shock in his appointment as captain however the staff was dealt a major blow as striker-cum-dragflicker Araijeet Singh Hundal is out with harm. The six-foot-plus attacker comes with an X-Issue and was even a part of the conversations for Paris Olympics squad earlier than ultimately lacking out. He has been frequently a part of Craig Fulton’s plans and would have been a possible star at this degree. However an unlucky shoulder harm has seen him miss the lower. Sreejesh stated that he fell and dislocated his shoulder throughout a coaching session and was suggested to relaxation. Despite the fact that he might have been picked for the event, any additional injury might have set him again so the previous India goalkeeper determined in opposition to it.
“Half a 12 months earlier than, we made a 25-player core group the place nearly all of them are equally ok and combating each session to get their probability within the nationwide staff for the Junior World Cup. Positively, Hundal is among the senior-most gamers who has loads of expertise taking part in with the seniors and the earlier Junior World Cup as effectively. Positively we are going to miss him, however the gamers who’ve been picked are ok. I hope that they won’t give me any alternative to actually realise I’m lacking Hundal, and I hope they may do their greatest.”
Story continues under this advert
The event, from 28 November to 10 December, will happen throughout two venues in Chennai and Madurai. India are grouped in Pool B together with Chile, Switzerland and Oman, who’ve are available because the alternative for Pakistan.
India squad:
Goalkeepers: Bikramjit Singh, Princedeep Singh. Defenders: Rohit (C), Talem Priyobarta, Anmol Ekka, Amir Ali, Sunil Palakshappa Bennur, Shardanand Tiwari. Midfielders: Ankit Pal, Thounaojam Ingalemba Luwang, Adrohit Ekka, Rosan Kujur, Manmeet Singh, Gurjot Singh. Forwards: Arshdeep Singh, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Ajeet Yadav, Dilraj Singh. Alternate Athletes: Ravneet Singh, Rohit Kullu.