A fairly successful stint has ended on a rather bitter note and despite the talk of an expired contract, PR Sreejesh' exit as India's junior men's hockey coach does not seem to be a straightforward call.

NDTV reached out to Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey who rejected suggestions that PR Sreejesh was sidelined unfairly.

PR Sreejesh, who was named as the Indian junior men's team coach after the 2024 Olympics, indicated that he was being removed from the post to make way for a foreign coach

Legendary goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, whose contract as India's junior men's hockey team chief coach ended in December last year, has re-applied for the position, which is set to be decided in a fortnight's time.

India's chief coach PR Sreejesh minced no words while acknowledging the shortcomings in his side ahead of their opening match of the FIH Junior Men's World Cup.

Drag-flicker Rohit was named captain of India's 20-member junior men's hockey squad announced on Friday for the FIH World Cup to be held in Tamil Nadu from November 28 to December 10.

The 36-year-old Sreejesh, who retired after winning a second successive Olympic bronze with the national team in the Paris Games last year, is currently the head coach of the junior India men's team.

Legendary Indian footballer IM Vijayan, and India's first Paralympic gold medal-winning archer Harvinder Singh too were named for the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour

Indian midfielder Shamsher Singh, who is currently co-captaining Delhi SG Pipers in the ongoing Hockey India League that India's bronze medal at the Paris Olympics was farewell gift to the legendary PR Sreejesh

Back-to-back Olympic medals after a hiatus of 50 years and the revival of the much-awaited HIL lit up the year for Indian hockey which also saw one of its biggest stars walk into sunset after a glorious career.