It may take 25 years for India to match China in Olympics: Sreejesh

NT Correspondent Bengaluru/Chennai: Two-time Olympic bronze medalist and former Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh stated that India, unlike other countries, lacks a robust sports culture, especially during his formative years. Sumanth Raman, a senior journalist, led a panel discussion titled “Road to Brisbane 2032: India’s Olympic Future” at a private institution in Chennai. Among the panelists was the “great wall of India.” “I’ve never seen my parents or my relatives involved in sports. Education always had first priority for employment. That’s the prevailing mentality in South India,” he said.

When addressing the question about the lack of buyers for hockey sticks in Chennai, he added, “Hockey is an expensive game, and when a child approaches their parents for a hockey stick, they are often told to choose another sport.” The panel also agreed that hockey requires more preparation than cricket or football, which need only a minimal amount of equipment. “The mentality among parents to let children play various games and choose one will help identify talent,” Sreejesh noted. Reflecting on the panel's theme, he projected the timeline for India to become a powerhouse in sports.

“It may take around five Olympic cycles to match China’s gold medal tally, realistically speaking. We need to identify talent at the grassroots level, and they require at least twelve years at the top level to become medal contenders,” he concluded. On the sidelines, the 36-year-old, who has now taken on the role of U-21 team coach, expressed confidence in India finding his replacement.

“There will definitely be someone who will fill my shoes. After Sachin (Tendulkar), we all felt there would be a gap. But when Virat Kohli came, he filled it. I set a high benchmark so that these young athletes could work hard to reach that level and perform even better. I truly believe these kids are capable of surpassing my achievements,” he said.