TOKYO: While the Indian hockey team won bronze after creating history in Tokyo, the most notable was the performance of Sreejesh, a Malayalee and goalkeeper of the Indian team.

Baljit Singh was the goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team 12 years ago for everyone. Baljit was then India's number one goalkeeper. It was a time when the team management was afraid to even try another person in the team other than Baljit. The team then had only a second goalkeeper by name. He was Kerala's own P R Sreejesh. "Sreejesh had fascinated me the most since then. It was Sreejesh who asked me the most number of questions after every match. The others just wanted to know the technicalities of the match, Sreejesh asked about the mind-set of the players at that time," said Baljit Singh.

When Baljit Singh retired unexpectedly from an eye injury in a camp in Pune in 2009, it was Sreejesh who was found by India to be under the bar besides Bharat Chhetri. Since then, Sreejesh of Kizhakkambalam, has been loyal to India. He had very often said that the best part of his career is that he had an opportunity to train with these legends Baljit Singh and Bharat Chhetri.

The best part of my career is that I had an opportunity to train with these legends .... Which made a great influence on what I’m today ..... 😎 @AdrianDsouzaHoc pic.twitter.com/QmaHfDxkex

— sreejesh p r (@16Sreejesh) March 4, 2020

Sreejesh’s international debut was in 2006. Sreejesh had made some beautiful performances in that tournament but due to some of his mistakes, India lost to Pakistan 2-3. At that time, Sreejesh realized the fact that the distance from hero to villain in hockey is very short.

India later recognized his talent in 2011. Sreejesh was a different person when he returned to play five years later against Pakistan, who made him a villain in 2006. Sreejesh became a hero to the Indians when defeated Pakistan then. Since then, this guy has been loyal to India.

Sreejesh is today the biggest force in the Indian hockey. Things have reached to the point where the fate of the Indian team's match changed according to the form of a single player, Sreejesh. However, India's greatest strength today is India's greatest weakness. India has not been able to find a replacement for 35-year-old Sreejesh. How long India will be able to move forward relying only on Sreejesh has to be seen.