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Deadspin | Victor Wembanyama sustains concussion in Spurs’ Game 2 loss  Apr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images   San Antonio star center Victor Wembanyama was concussed during Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, his coach confirmed following the contest.  “I just know he has a concussion and he’s in the protocol and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “You know, it’s tough. That protocol is the protocol, so we’ll just follow it, as everyone else does, and plan accordingly.”  Wembanyama was forced from Game 2 after hitting his face on the floor early in the second quarter. The Spurs later announced that Wembanyama had entered concussion protocol and would not return to the game before it was confirmed after the contest — a 106-103 Blazers win that leveled the series — that a concussion had been sustained.  Wembanyama hit his face on the floor at near-full speed after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the basket at the 8:57 mark of the second period, with the contact leaving him dazed enough to struggle standing up before jogging off the floor to the locker room.  San Antonio trailed 34-32 at the time, and Wembanyama had amassed five points, four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 11:41 of court time when he was injured. The game was tied 57-57 by halftime.   The Spurs have had plenty of success without their star this season. Wembanyama missed 18 games this season with various injuries, with San Antonio going 12-6 in those games.  However, Wembanyama’s absence for Game 3 and potentially beyond would loom large in a series that suddenly swung to Portland’s advantage after the Blazers wrested away the home-court edge on Tuesday.  Wembanyama is scheduled to receive further testing on Wednesday but must remain inactive for a minimum of 24 hours and can’t resume full participation before 48 hours, per NBA concussion guidelines.  The teams won’t play again until Friday, when Game 3 will be contested in Portland.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Victor #Wembanyama #sustains #concussion #Spurs #Game #loss

Deadspin | Victor Wembanyama sustains concussion in Spurs’ Game 2 loss
Deadspin | Victor Wembanyama sustains concussion in Spurs’ Game 2 loss  Apr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images   San Antonio star center Victor Wembanyama was concussed during Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, his coach confirmed following the contest.  “I just know he has a concussion and he’s in the protocol and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “You know, it’s tough. That protocol is the protocol, so we’ll just follow it, as everyone else does, and plan accordingly.”  Wembanyama was forced from Game 2 after hitting his face on the floor early in the second quarter. The Spurs later announced that Wembanyama had entered concussion protocol and would not return to the game before it was confirmed after the contest — a 106-103 Blazers win that leveled the series — that a concussion had been sustained.  Wembanyama hit his face on the floor at near-full speed after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the basket at the 8:57 mark of the second period, with the contact leaving him dazed enough to struggle standing up before jogging off the floor to the locker room.  San Antonio trailed 34-32 at the time, and Wembanyama had amassed five points, four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 11:41 of court time when he was injured. The game was tied 57-57 by halftime.   The Spurs have had plenty of success without their star this season. Wembanyama missed 18 games this season with various injuries, with San Antonio going 12-6 in those games.  However, Wembanyama’s absence for Game 3 and potentially beyond would loom large in a series that suddenly swung to Portland’s advantage after the Blazers wrested away the home-court edge on Tuesday.  Wembanyama is scheduled to receive further testing on Wednesday but must remain inactive for a minimum of 24 hours and can’t resume full participation before 48 hours, per NBA concussion guidelines.  The teams won’t play again until Friday, when Game 3 will be contested in Portland.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Victor #Wembanyama #sustains #concussion #Spurs #Game #lossApr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

San Antonio star center Victor Wembanyama was concussed during Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, his coach confirmed following the contest.

“I just know he has a concussion and he’s in the protocol and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “You know, it’s tough. That protocol is the protocol, so we’ll just follow it, as everyone else does, and plan accordingly.”

Wembanyama was forced from Game 2 after hitting his face on the floor early in the second quarter. The Spurs later announced that Wembanyama had entered concussion protocol and would not return to the game before it was confirmed after the contest — a 106-103 Blazers win that leveled the series — that a concussion had been sustained.

Wembanyama hit his face on the floor at near-full speed after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the basket at the 8:57 mark of the second period, with the contact leaving him dazed enough to struggle standing up before jogging off the floor to the locker room.


San Antonio trailed 34-32 at the time, and Wembanyama had amassed five points, four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 11:41 of court time when he was injured. The game was tied 57-57 by halftime.

The Spurs have had plenty of success without their star this season. Wembanyama missed 18 games this season with various injuries, with San Antonio going 12-6 in those games.

However, Wembanyama’s absence for Game 3 and potentially beyond would loom large in a series that suddenly swung to Portland’s advantage after the Blazers wrested away the home-court edge on Tuesday.

Wembanyama is scheduled to receive further testing on Wednesday but must remain inactive for a minimum of 24 hours and can’t resume full participation before 48 hours, per NBA concussion guidelines.

The teams won’t play again until Friday, when Game 3 will be contested in Portland.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Victor #Wembanyama #sustains #concussion #Spurs #Game #loss

Apr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

San Antonio star center Victor Wembanyama was concussed during Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, his coach confirmed following the contest.

“I just know he has a concussion and he’s in the protocol and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “You know, it’s tough. That protocol is the protocol, so we’ll just follow it, as everyone else does, and plan accordingly.”

Wembanyama was forced from Game 2 after hitting his face on the floor early in the second quarter. The Spurs later announced that Wembanyama had entered concussion protocol and would not return to the game before it was confirmed after the contest — a 106-103 Blazers win that leveled the series — that a concussion had been sustained.

Wembanyama hit his face on the floor at near-full speed after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the basket at the 8:57 mark of the second period, with the contact leaving him dazed enough to struggle standing up before jogging off the floor to the locker room.

San Antonio trailed 34-32 at the time, and Wembanyama had amassed five points, four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 11:41 of court time when he was injured. The game was tied 57-57 by halftime.

The Spurs have had plenty of success without their star this season. Wembanyama missed 18 games this season with various injuries, with San Antonio going 12-6 in those games.

However, Wembanyama’s absence for Game 3 and potentially beyond would loom large in a series that suddenly swung to Portland’s advantage after the Blazers wrested away the home-court edge on Tuesday.

Wembanyama is scheduled to receive further testing on Wednesday but must remain inactive for a minimum of 24 hours and can’t resume full participation before 48 hours, per NBA concussion guidelines.

The teams won’t play again until Friday, when Game 3 will be contested in Portland.

–Field Level Media

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FIFA World Cup 2026 not available to fans in India yet — What’s going wrong? <div id="content-body-70891836" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The FIFA World Cup, nearly a century since its inception, has remained the crown jewel of international men’s football.</p><p>Despite India never playing in the tournament, the spectacle has always taken centre stage among football fans. But 2026 carries a different writing on the wall.</p><p>The quadrennial carnival does not have a broadcaster. No TV channel, no streaming company has put its foot forward to take it up. Why is that so?</p><p>“Football viewership in India has been on the decline for some time now. If you look at the Premier League, its valuation has fallen from $145 million in 2013-14 to $60 million in the latest deal,” an industry expert tells  <i>Sportstar</i>.</p><p>Sony Sports acquired the commercial rights for the FIFA World Cup 2014, 2018, and Euro 2016 for around $90 million in 2013, which would be almost double the value today, adjusted for inflation.</p><p>Eight years later, Reliance picked up the 2022 World Cup rights for $60 million.</p><p>FIFA had offered rights for the next two World Cups as a package to the Indian market for $100 million last year. However, a lack of interest saw the global football body reconsider the valuation to $35 million.</p><p>Even then, interest did not emerge, exposing the broken economics of World Cup broadcasting in this part of the world.</p><p>“In India, the picture appears more nuanced than a simple lack of takers. Broadcasters are likely weighing a combination of structural and commercial considerations,” says Rohit Potphode, Managing Partner – Sports, Gaming, eSports & Live Experiences, Dentsu India.</p><div class="article-picture left-img verticle"><img src-template="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/1iu1jw/article70876982.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Rohit%20Potphode%20Managing%20Partner%20-%20Sports%20Gaming%20eSports%20%20Live%20Experiences%20dentsu%20India.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/1iu1jw/article70876982.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Rohit%20Potphode%20Managing%20Partner%20-%20Sports%20Gaming%20eSports%20%20Live%20Experiences%20dentsu%20India.jpg" alt="Rohit Potphode discussed why the company went for broadcasting rights in Japan for FIFA World Cup 2026 and not in India." title="Rohit Potphode discussed why the company went for broadcasting rights in Japan for FIFA World Cup 2026 and not in India." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Rohit Potphode discussed why the company went for broadcasting rights in Japan for FIFA World Cup 2026 and not in India. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Rohit Potphode discussed why the company went for broadcasting rights in Japan for FIFA World Cup 2026 and not in India. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement </p></div><p>Dentsu is the commercial partner for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Japan, which was also among the top viewers of the tournament in 2022.</p><p>“Japan is significantly different from India in terms of audience appetite, advertisers, and overall media ecosystem.”</p><p>“One significant factor is match timing; fixtures scheduled at late-night or early-morning hours for Indian audiences can materially impact viewership peaks, which in turn affects advertising inventory and revenue potential. Even marquee events can struggle to deliver optimal returns when they fall outside prime viewing windows,” he adds.</p><p>The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being played in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico, placing most matches outside prime Indian viewing hours.</p><p>Of the 104 games in the World Cup this time, only 14 begin before midnight. In comparison, Qatar 2022 had 44 of its 64 matches before midnight, while Russia 2018 had 63.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src-template="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/fvlshw/article70876984.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Midnight%20Madness%20-%20Final.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/fvlshw/article70876984.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Midnight%20Madness%20-%20Final.jpg" alt="" class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/></div><h4 class="sub_head">Profitability the only priority</h4><p>“The business scenario in sports in India has shifted primarily to profitability,” a source from one of the broadcasters says.</p><p>“Subscription is a limited option in this country, despite the appetite being there. In the West, football is mostly behind paywalls. You cannot do that in India.”</p><p>Sky Sports charges a subscription fee of about £22 per month to show the Premier League in the UK, while FOX Sports, the World Cup broadcaster in the US, sells its FOX One + ESPN Bundle for $40 per month.</p><div class="inline_embed article-block-item"><div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/why-fifa-world-cup-2026-not-available-in-india-no-broadcaster-tv-channel-streaming-rights-explained/visualisation/28604812"><img src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/28604812/thumbnail" width="100%" alt="visualization"/></div></div><p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 was streamed on JioCinema and Sports18HD, with the former offering it for free and the latter charging Rs. 12 for the channel.</p><p>The result: India saw one of the steepest individual market drops, losing 87 million linear viewers in four years. The audience moved to digital, which was free, not away from football. Meanwhile, JioStar reportedly lost millions with the free-to-air service.</p><p>In general, though, football viewership in the country has declined. The Indian Super League, the top flight of men’s football, has seen its broadcast rights valuation fall by 97 per cent in the last year.</p><p>World Cup football has followed the same trend: The 2022 edition had every match worth Rs. 6.94 crore. Four years later, that value has fallen to Rs. 1.56 crore per match — a 77.5 per cent drop.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src-template="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/vchx4/article70876980.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/GettyImages-1593650683.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/vchx4/article70876980.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/GettyImages-1593650683.jpg" alt="Most fans in India watched the FIFA World Cup 2022 free of cost on JioCinema, not on linear television." title="Most fans in India watched the FIFA World Cup 2022 free of cost on JioCinema, not on linear television." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Most fans in India watched the FIFA World Cup 2022 free of cost on JioCinema, not on linear television. | Photo Credit: Getty Images </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Most fans in India watched the FIFA World Cup 2022 free of cost on JioCinema, not on linear television. | Photo Credit: Getty Images </p></div><p>“The lack of advertising opportunities in football is another issue. While commercial partners can have ad slots after every over or dismissal in cricket, or maybe every set in tennis, in football, it’s largely restricted to pre-match, half-time and full-time, with limited additional breaks,” another individual from an Indian broadcaster says.</p><p>Potphode adds further insight. “The advertising market remains highly value-conscious, with brands increasingly seeking measurable and consistent returns across both television and digital platforms.</p><p>“With a crowded sports calendar and the continued rise of on-demand consumption, rights holders and broadcasters may be taking a more calibrated approach, evaluating not just scale, but the quality and timing of audience engagement.”</p><h4 class="sub_head">Will there be a solution?</h4><p>FIFA is expected to hold negotiations with leading Indian broadcasters — JioStar, FanCode, Sony Sports and ZEE Entertainment — in search of a last-ditch solution. It is unlikely for DAZN to enter the conversation, while Netflix and YouTube have chosen not to comment.</p><p>If all options fail, the World Cup could return to Doordarshan, India’s public broadcaster, after 28 years. Under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, sporting events of national importance must be shared with the broadcaster.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src-template="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/7l0dep/article70876979.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/zidane-carlos98.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/7l0dep/article70876979.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/zidane-carlos98.jpg" alt="Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan’s parent company, had made a profit of Rs. 3.5 crore from the 1998 rights." title="Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan’s parent company, had made a profit of Rs. 3.5 crore from the 1998 rights." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan’s parent company, had made a profit of Rs. 3.5 crore from the 1998 rights. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Library </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan’s parent company, had made a profit of Rs. 3.5 crore from the 1998 rights. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Library </p></div><p>That could offer a lifeline, with marquee matches — likely the knockouts and the final — broadcast on Doordarshan irrespective of the primary rights holder.</p><p>Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan’s parent company, had made a profit of Rs. 3.5 crore from the 1998 rights. A return to public broadcasting could yet make the World Cup viable again in India.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 22, 2026</p></div> #FIFA #World #Cup #fans #India #Whats #wrong

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IPL 2026: Australia skipper Marsh seeks redemption with LSG after disappointing T20 World Cup <div id="content-body-70891271" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Mitchell Marsh is trying to put a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign behind him but the Australian ​all-rounder concedes he has yet to hit his stride in the Indian ‌Premier League (IPL) with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in urgent need ​of some inspiration.</p><p>Marsh delivered a stellar performance in the ⁠IPL last year, scoring 627 runs at an average of 48.23, including his highest score in the format with an innings of 117 off 64 ‌balls against Gujarat Titans.</p><p>But he has fallen far short of those lofty levels this year, with the 34-year-old accumulating ‌only 155 runs in the first six matches, averaging 25.83.</p><p>With ‌a ⁠run of three straight defeats leaving LSG ninth of ⁠the IPL’s 10 teams, Marsh knows he needs to find form fast.</p><p>“I probably haven’t got going. I think you can maybe search a little bit too much ​at times,” Marsh told Reuters.</p><p>“I ‌know that I’m probably one or two boundaries away from really getting going and it’s about being consistent with my preparations and knowing that it will come.”</p><p>With only two wins from its first six games, LSG is in danger of missing ​the playoffs for the third year in a row, but Marsh says there is time to turn things around.</p><p>“It’s ⁠a long tournament and we’ve got great belief that we can challenge the best teams in the competition … I think if we can ‌put together a full 40 overs as a unit, we’re going to be very hard to break,” he said.</p><p>Marsh played a key role in helping Perth Scorchers win the Big Bash League in January and was primed to play a big role in Australia’s T20 World Cup in February-March but a groin injury hampered his ‌campaign.</p><p>Defeats to Zimbabwe and co-host Sri Lanka sealed Australia’s first group stage exit ​since 2009.</p><p>“Pretty much every game is a knockout game with the way that it’s structured up … one failure ⁠can cost you a spot in the knockout stage,” said Marsh, who ⁠did not want to discuss how the squad dealt with the early exit.</p><p>“Those conversations have happened behind closed doors,” he ‌added.</p><p>Marsh said his focus was now on helping LSG win its first IPL trophy. “I’ve got great faith in this group … our ​best cricket is ahead of us,” he added.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 22, 2026</p></div> #IPL #Australia #skipper #Marsh #seeks #redemption #LSG #disappointing #T20 #World #Cup

You know it. I know it. We all know it.

Jordan Spieth is chasing the career grand slam yet again this week at the PGA Championship and given that we so recently got to see somebody climb that mountain last year with Rory McIlroy at the Masters (where he doubled down this year)… we want more.

This year marks Spieth’s 10th run at the Career Grand Slam and the passage of time has seemingly made him have a level of peace about the quest.

At the moment Jordan isn’t exactly believed to be seriously in the mix. Consider that FanDuel Sportsbook has him at +5500 to win at Aronimink with players like Min Woo Lee and Chris Gotterup ahead of him. Even Jordan’s buddy Rickie Fowler is listed in front him after last week’s showing at the Truist.

Isn’t the fact that this is a longshot something that makes us want it all the more, though? How many people seriously went into Augusta last year thinking that Rory was about to do it? He may not have been this far down the odds listing, but he was hardly considered a lock.

We could literally be on the precipice of golf history right now. Think about that.

#Jordan #Spieth #incredible #week">Jordan Spieth could do something incredible this week  You know it. I know it. We all know it.Jordan Spieth is chasing the career grand slam yet again this week at the PGA Championship and given that we so recently got to see somebody climb that mountain last year with Rory McIlroy at the Masters (where he doubled down this year)… we want more.This year marks Spieth’s 10th run at the Career Grand Slam and the passage of time has seemingly made him have a level of peace about the quest.At the moment Jordan isn’t exactly believed to be seriously in the mix. Consider that FanDuel Sportsbook has him at +5500 to win at Aronimink with players like Min Woo Lee and Chris Gotterup ahead of him. Even Jordan’s buddy Rickie Fowler is listed in front him after last week’s showing at the Truist.Isn’t the fact that this is a longshot something that makes us want it all the more, though? How many people seriously went into Augusta last year thinking that Rory was about to do it? He may not have been this far down the odds listing, but he was hardly considered a lock.We could literally be on the precipice of golf history right now. Think about that.  #Jordan #Spieth #incredible #week

India, on Thursday, officially appointed decorated Frenchman Frederic Soyez as the chief coach of the national junior men’s hockey team, replacing two-time Olympic medallist PR Sreejesh.

Sreejesh, a former star goalkeeper, was removed from his role just after 17 months, following the expiry of his contract, after guiding India to a bronze medal finish at last year’s FIH Junior World Cup in Chennai and Madurai.

In a strongly-worded social media post, Sreejesh vented out his frustration, saying his tenure was brought to an end despite winning five medals in as many tournaments during his stint, but Hockey India argued that the decision was taken considering the long-term vision of building a sustainable high-performance ecosystem aligned with India’s ambitions for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.

One of the most accomplished coaches in European hockey, Soyez brings over three decades of elite coaching experience, including 15 years as an international player for France and over 15 years as a head coach at the highest level.

Soyez, who enjoyed an illustrious playing career with France from 1995 to 2010, earning 196 international caps and scoring an impressive 195 goals for the team, coached the national men’s hockey teams of both France and Spain.

He has coaching experience at three Olympic Games, having guided Spain at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics before leading France at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

During his tenure with Spain, he guided the team to a silver medal at the 2019 European Championships, while also steering it to quarterfinal finishes at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.

A proven developer of young talent, Soyez coached France to a historic silver medal at the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup in Delhi in 2013 and most recently guided the French U-18 men’s team to a silver medal at the 2025 European Championships.

He additionally served as the High-Performance Director of the French Hockey Federation from 2021 to 2024, overseeing the country’s broader high-performance and athlete development structure.

His coaching resume also includes participation in two FIH Men’s Hockey World Cups (2018, 2023) and six European Championships (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023), underlining his extensive experience at the elite international level.

At the domestic level, Soyez guided Lille MHC to French Indoor and Outdoor Championship titles in 2012, along with EuroHockey Trophy Indoor and Outdoor titles in the same year.

Widely regarded for his expertise in high-performance systems, athlete development, and penalty corner strategy, Soyez has consistently built teams with strong tactical structure and competitive consistency across all levels.

Hockey India’s long-term strategy also places significant emphasis on developing Indian coaches alongside international experts.

To ensure knowledge transfer and continuity, Indian coaches have been integrated across the senior, junior, and sub-junior national camps, with designated Indian coaches working closely alongside the respective head coaches at every level.

Welcoming Soyez to Indian hockey, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said, “We warmly welcome Frederic Soyez to the Hockey India family. Frederic comes with outstanding international credentials, having coached at multiple Olympic Games, World Cups, and European Championships, while also successfully developing young talent and high-performance systems.

“We believe his experience and skill set will greatly benefit Indian hockey as we continue to work towards a bigger long-term vision for the 2036 Olympics. Our focus is not only on immediate results but also on building a deep talent pool and a coaching structure that remains aligned from sub-junior to senior level. By integrating Indian coaches, alongside international experts in every national camp across all levels, we are ensuring continuity in coaching philosophy, player development, and tactical understanding.

“This collaborative approach will also play a vital role in strengthening the capabilities of Indian coaches and creating a more self-sustaining high-performance ecosystem for the future,” he added.

Published on May 14, 2026

#Frederic #Soyez #replaces #Sreejesh #coach #Indian #junior #mens #hockey #team">Frederic Soyez replaces PR Sreejesh as coach of Indian junior men’s hockey team  India, on Thursday, officially appointed decorated Frenchman Frederic Soyez as the chief coach of the national junior men’s hockey team, replacing two-time Olympic medallist PR Sreejesh.Sreejesh, a former star goalkeeper, was removed from his role just after 17 months, following the expiry of his contract, after guiding India to a bronze medal finish at last year’s FIH Junior World Cup in Chennai and Madurai.In a strongly-worded social media post, Sreejesh vented out his frustration, saying his tenure was brought to an end despite winning five medals in as many tournaments during his stint, but Hockey India argued that the decision was taken considering the long-term vision of building a sustainable high-performance ecosystem aligned with India’s ambitions for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.One of the most accomplished coaches in European hockey, Soyez brings over three decades of elite coaching experience, including 15 years as an international player for France and over 15 years as a head coach at the highest level.Soyez, who enjoyed an illustrious playing career with France from 1995 to 2010, earning 196 international caps and scoring an impressive 195 goals for the team, coached the national men’s hockey teams of both France and Spain.He has coaching experience at three Olympic Games, having guided Spain at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics before leading France at the Paris 2024 Olympics.During his tenure with Spain, he guided the team to a silver medal at the 2019 European Championships, while also steering it to quarterfinal finishes at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.A proven developer of young talent, Soyez coached France to a historic silver medal at the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup in Delhi in 2013 and most recently guided the French U-18 men’s team to a silver medal at the 2025 European Championships.He additionally served as the High-Performance Director of the French Hockey Federation from 2021 to 2024, overseeing the country’s broader high-performance and athlete development structure.His coaching resume also includes participation in two FIH Men’s Hockey World Cups (2018, 2023) and six European Championships (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023), underlining his extensive experience at the elite international level.At the domestic level, Soyez guided Lille MHC to French Indoor and Outdoor Championship titles in 2012, along with EuroHockey Trophy Indoor and Outdoor titles in the same year.Widely regarded for his expertise in high-performance systems, athlete development, and penalty corner strategy, Soyez has consistently built teams with strong tactical structure and competitive consistency across all levels.Hockey India’s long-term strategy also places significant emphasis on developing Indian coaches alongside international experts.To ensure knowledge transfer and continuity, Indian coaches have been integrated across the senior, junior, and sub-junior national camps, with designated Indian coaches working closely alongside the respective head coaches at every level.Welcoming Soyez to Indian hockey, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said, “We warmly welcome Frederic Soyez to the Hockey India family. Frederic comes with outstanding international credentials, having coached at multiple Olympic Games, World Cups, and European Championships, while also successfully developing young talent and high-performance systems.“We believe his experience and skill set will greatly benefit Indian hockey as we continue to work towards a bigger long-term vision for the 2036 Olympics. Our focus is not only on immediate results but also on building a deep talent pool and a coaching structure that remains aligned from sub-junior to senior level. By integrating Indian coaches, alongside international experts in every national camp across all levels, we are ensuring continuity in coaching philosophy, player development, and tactical understanding.“This collaborative approach will also play a vital role in strengthening the capabilities of Indian coaches and creating a more self-sustaining high-performance ecosystem for the future,” he added.Published on May 14, 2026  #Frederic #Soyez #replaces #Sreejesh #coach #Indian #junior #mens #hockey #team

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