Sreejesh, the pride of Indian Hockey

PR Sreejesh, the loyal goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team, has bid farewell to the game after winning the bronze medal in the second consecutive Olympics. 36-year-old Sreejesh, son of Ernakulam Kizhakkambalam native PV Raveendran and Usha, is undoubtedly one of the best players that Kerala has ever gifted to the Indian sports scenario. Sreejesh is taking off his Indian jersey with the proud achievement of being the only Malayali to have won a medal in two Olympics. Sreejesh announced his retirement on social media soon after he arrived in Paris for the Olympics.

Sreejesh, who was selected for the Indian junior team in 2004, reached the senior team in 2006. He was named the best goalkeeper in the 2008 Junior Asia Cup. Sreejesh became the talk of the Indian hockey world with his unforgettable performance against Pakistan in that tournament. He then remained a steady wall in front of the Indian goal net for several years. Sreejesh has won several national and international best goalkeeper awards. He won gold in two Asian Games and four Asian Championships. He led the Indian side in many competitions, including the 2016 Rio Olympics. He was one of the main reasons why the Indian hockey team won an Olympic medal in Tokyo in 2021 after a gap of 41 years.

In Tokyo, it was Sreejesh's scintillating saves in the dying seconds of the bronze medal match against Germany that propelled India to victory. Despite losing in the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics against the same Germany, India went on to win another bronze medal by beating Spain in the Losers' final. Sreejesh, who kissed the ground after his last game, was given a guard of honour by his teammates. Sreejesh got the most beautiful send-off a player can ever get. Sreejesh displayed an excellent performance in his last tournament as well, especially in the quarter-final match against Great Britain. The visuals of Sreejesh sitting on the ground and jumping for joy after blocking two penalty strokes of the opponents will remain etched forever in the minds of Indian hockey fans.

Sreejesh is not someone who made his way to the field of sports through the red carpet. When he first arrived at the Indian camp, he was subjected to quite a lot of mocking for tying the keeping pad with a rope as he didn't have the money to attach a strap to it. His father, a poor farmer, had to sell his income-generating cow to buy hockey equipment for his son. Sree's glory is enhanced by the fact that he does not forget the paths that he came across in life. Despite his retirement as a player, Sree's presence will not fade away from Indian hockey. It is said that he will be with the Indian junior team as a coach. May Sreejesh be able to give more to the future generation as a coach than what he has achieved as a player.