PR Sreejesh has decided not to participate in the Hockey India League after calling time on his international career.
The former India goalkeeper, who made his last international appearance at Paris 2024, has decided against returning to the hockey turf after living his dream moments during the bronze medal finish at the Olympics.
“After much thought, I have decided to withdraw my name from the Player Auction for the upcoming Hockey India League,” he wrote to HI president Dilip Tirkey on Wednesday, as confirmed to The Hindu.
“I was extremely touched by your gesture to host a retirement function for me after our return from Paris. Very few players have had the privilege to end their careers on such a high…The past month and a half has been humbling and satisfying in equal measure… I ended my playing career on a high by standing on top of the Olympic podium for the second consecutive Games… Bowing down to the goalpost after the win over Spain and celebrating with my teammates was special and I want those memories to remain with me forever. Returning to the turf for ‘One Last Dance’ does not feel right now and I fear it would tamper with those memories and special moments,” he further explained.
He will be working closely with former India head coach Graham Reid as the director of the Delhi franchise, owned by APL Apollo-led SG Sports Ventures, at the league.
The league is set to make a historic comeback after a 7-year hiatus, with the 2024-25 edition bringing an exciting new era to the sport.
The HIL 2024-25 will feature 8 men’s teams and 6 women’s teams, marking the first time a standalone women’s league will run concurrently with the men’s competition. This monumental expansion is a testament to Hockey India’s commitment to fostering both male and female talent in the sport, elevating the status of Indian hockey on a global scale.
The players’ auction for the HIL 2024-25 will be held from October 13th to 15th in New Delhi. Each franchise will build a 24-player squad, consisting of at least 16 Indian players (with a mandatory inclusion of 4 junior players) and 8 international stars. This balanced approach is designed to nurture local talent while adding international flair to the competition.
The HIL 2024-25 will commence on 28th December, with the opening ceremony scheduled to take place on the same date in Rourkela. The HIL 2024-25 will see its matches played across two venues — Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Odisha — with the women’s league final scheduled for 26th January 2025 in Ranchi and the men’s final to be held on 1st February 2025 in Rourkela.
