New Delhi – Indian hockey legends PR Sreejesh and Viren Rasquinha have sharply criticized the national teams' poor performance at the recent FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. They are demanding accountability and warning that a medal at the upcoming Asian Games should not conceal deeper issues within Indian hockey. Both the men's and women's teams failed to reach the semi-finals in the tournament held in the Netherlands and Belgium in August 2026.
Accountability Demanded After World Cup Exit
Former India men's hockey captain and Olympic medalist PR Sreejesh expressed strong disappointment following India's exit from the World Cup. He questioned the overall approach and preparation of the national teams. Sreejesh specifically criticized the repeated tendency to label disappointing results as mere "learning experiences". He emphasized that the World Cup is a major tournament, not a practice run. "Stop hiding behind 'learning', 'good hockey' and future tournaments. The World Cup is not a rehearsal. It is the World Cup," Sreejesh wrote on X.[hindustantimes+4]
Sreejesh raised critical questions about the ambition of Indian hockey. He asked if the goal is simply to "play good hockey" or to build a team "capable of winning against the best in the world". His comments highlight a perceived lack of clear, winning-oriented strategy within the sport's management. He also pointed out the absence of the women's chief coach, Sjoerd Marijne, who was reportedly on holiday just before the World Cup. Sreejesh praised the women's team for their spirited performance despite the circumstances, but questioned the accountability of allowing a chief coach to be away during crucial preparation phases.[hindustantimes+6]
The veteran goalkeeper, who has been part of two Olympic medal-winning Indian teams, posed a series of pointed questions: "So who is going to ask the difficult questions? Who is going to demand accountability? And most importantly… Does anyone actually care?". These remarks underscore a deep frustration with the perceived lack of introspection and consequence for underperformance at major international events.[indiatvnews+6]
Rasquinha Warns Against Asian Games Cover-up
Former India captain and Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) CEO Viren Rasquinha echoed Sreejesh's concerns. He specifically warned against the danger of an Asian Games gold medal masking deeper, systemic problems within Indian men's hockey. Rasquinha believes that while success at the Asian Games is important, it should not divert attention from the critical analysis needed after a World Cup flop. "My worry is that a gold medal for India at AG will paper over a lot of cracks in Indian Men's ," Rasquinha wrote on X.[hindustantimes+3]
Rasquinha called for "serious introspection" after the Asian Games. He stressed the need to examine key areas such as player fitness, selection processes, tactical strategies, and the overall squad depth. His concerns extend to the broader state of Asian hockey, which he described as "currently at its worst ever," citing the performances of teams like Japan, Pakistan, and Malaysia at the recent World Cup. India was the sole Asian team to advance to the second round, highlighting the struggles of other regional competitors.[hindustantimes+8]
Beyond the World Cup performance, Rasquinha also publicly criticized Hockey India's decision to change the national team's traditional blue jersey to a saffron one for the 2026 World Cup. He called the move "embarrassing" and questioned the logic behind altering the team's long-standing identity and legacy. Rasquinha emphasized that fans identify the Indian team with the blue color, questioning why such a change was made.[hindustantimes+4]
India's World Cup Performance
The Indian men's hockey team's campaign in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 ended without reaching the semi-finals, extending their 51-year wait for a podium finish at the tournament. The team crashed out after a 3-5 defeat to Argentina in the second stage of the competition. Inthe initial rounds, India also suffered losses to higher-ranked teams, including a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands and a 4-2 loss to England, finishing the second stage with zero points against top opponents.[m+10]
The women's team, while also failing to reach the semi-finals, put up a determined fight. Their hopes ended after a goalless draw against Australia. Sreejesh noted their strong effort, suggesting the players "fought their hearts out and exceeded expectations" despite the challenges, including the chief coach's absence. India's previous World Cup in 2023, which they hosted, also saw them fail to reach the quarterfinals after losing to New Zealand in the crossovers.[timesnownews+8]
The criticisms from Sreejesh and Rasquinha underline a growing demand for greater accountability and a more rigorous evaluation of strategies and leadership within Indian hockey. Their warnings suggest that quick fixes or continental successes should not overshadow the need for fundamental improvements if India aims to consistently compete and win against the world's elite hockey nations. The focus now shifts to how Hockey India will address these concerns and prepare for future challenges, especially the upcoming Asian Games and the long-term goal of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.[timesnownews]
