Former champion goalkeeper P R Sreejesh has recorded a hat-trick of wins in his latest avatar as coach of India's junior men's hockey team in the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia.
On Tuesday, Sreejesh's India defeated hosts Malaysia 4-2 after trailing 0-2 inside 10 minutes. India had started the campaign with a 4-2 win over Japan before edging Great Britain, 6-4, in a thriller.
India tops the pool with a goal difference of 6. The young Men in Blue will next play Australia on Wednesday.
Until early August, Sreejesh was an active player with senior India. He was impressive in India's bronze-medal success at the Paris Olympics. It was the Keralite's second Olympic medal after a bronze in the previous edition in Tokyo.
But Sreejesh wasted no time after retiring and got busy with his role as a coach. In between, the goalkeeping legend also took up the responsibilities of Director and Assistant Coach at Delhi SG Pipers in the Hockey India League.