India has talent to find replacement for me, says Sreejesh

Retired hockey stalwart Sreejesh optimistic about India's talent pool, reflects on career, and potential coaching role.

Just-retired P.R. Sreejesh, who stood like a wall defending the goal for nearly two decades before bowing out on a high with a second Olympic hockey bronze medal in Paris, believes India has talent aplenty to find a suitable replacement for him.

Sreejesh (36) stood rock solid in India's campaign at the Olympics and played a key role in their hard-fought 2-1 victory against Spain in the bronze-medal match.

Also Read: Sreejesh to join Manu Bhaker as India’s flag-bearer in Olympics closing ceremony

"There won't be a vacuum. Someone will come to my place, for sure. All the sports are like that. Sachin Tendulkar was there and now there is Virat Kohli, and someone will take his place tomorrow. So, Sreejesh was there yesterday, but someone else will come and take his place tomorrow," the goalkeeping stalwart told PTI in an interview at the India House in Paris.

Sreejesh, who has been offered to take up a mentoring role in the Indian junior team set-up, said that all these years his life has revolved around hockey and now that he has retired, he doesn't know what he will do.

"It's like missing my life. I don't know anything other than hockey. From the first day I went to the camp in 2002 until now, I've been with them. I don't know what all I will miss; maybe when I'm home, I will figure it out. From morning until I'm out with them — training, gym, on the field — there is always a fun atmosphere. Pep talk, team meeting; you have to shout at them, even abuse them," he said.

"The celebration days after a win or crying together after a loss — it's been my life. Maybe we don't know what it's like to be outside," he added.