World Cup is not rehearsal: Sreejesh slams India men’s, women’s team managements

Former Olympic medalist PR Sreejesh criticized the management of India's men's and women's hockey teams for their failure to advance beyond the group stage of the respective World Cups. Sreejesh posted on social media, expressing sarcasm towards the importance of the World Cup, stating that it is not a rehearsal but the actual event.

He suggested that the Asian Games could be a better focus, where India could secure a medal and then dream about the 2028 LA World Cup. Sreejesh questioned the accountability of the team management, specifically pointing out the chief coach's absence during the final phase of preparation. He conceded that the women's team fought hard and exceeded expectations despite their chief coach being on holiday before the World Cup.

However, he emphasized the need for accountability and questioned whether the teams are being built to simply play good hockey or to win against the best teams in the world.