Juniors need to earn their place in the squad, says Sreejesh

PR Sreejesh, the captain of the team said the camp is a fresh beginning. “With many youngsters coming into the core probables, the juniors as well as seniors will really have to push for a spot in the national team. The juniors will need to get better and better in their skill and execution, adapt well in the camp and prove themselves that they are worthy of that position and are ready to replace a senior player. “As for a senior player, he needs to match the fitness and speed the juniors bring to the table. While we know that juniors will be the future as we prepare for 2020 Tokyo Olympics, they shouldn’t take it for granted that they will make it to the squad. They need to earn it,” he said.

Though the junior squad, who won the World Cup last year, had a fabulous outing in 2016 and played to their potential in the Hockey India League, Sreejesh feels the level of game will be entirely different in the senior team. “These six weeks will be good exposure for them in terms of understanding the system we follow, learn how we strategise, plan and execute. Though they have seen us train closely as we were based in the same campus almost through the year in 2016, I believe being in the system is very different from watching us train,” stated the Indian goalkeeper. 

The Indian team selection trials will be held in the following weeks to pick the final squad for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia starting April 29. “I feel that will be a great tournament to see where the juniors stand in terms of temperament and performance,” Sreejesh concluded.