Thank you, PR Sreejesh, 'The GOAT' of Indian Hockey
PR Sreejesh who made his debut for India in 2006 retired from international hockey Thursday after playing a crucial role in Team India's 2-1 victory against Spain to bag the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics 2024. Sreejesh, who played in 336 games for the country, played a key role in Team India winning the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after a hiatus of four decades.
They say that being a goalkeeper is a thankless job, as no matter how many goals they defend, they will be remembered for the one that slipped through their defense. And guess who agrees with this? Former Indian Hockey Team captain and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh!
CREDIT: PTI
In a 2021 interview, Sreejesh said: ¡°Goalkeeping is an important position in hockey but a thankless job too. If a match is won 1-nil, people would be curious to know who scored the goal. No one asks how many attempts were saved by a goalkeeper. Similarly, if we lose 1-0, then all eyes will be on the keeper who failed his team. Goalkeepers are destined only to hear blame.¡±
Also read: PR Sreejesh's face after defeat to Germany showed how much he wanted a gold in last outing
CREDIT: PTI
PR Sreejesh, the wall of Indian hockey
While this might be true to an extent, Sreejesh, who guarded India's goalpost for nearly eighteen years, will be remembered as the wall of Indian Hockey.
Together with my brothers, we fought, we bled, we conquered. For India! Forever grateful ?? pic.twitter.com/FXMSf8QjFb
¡ª sreejesh p r (@16Sreejesh) August 8, 2024
The 36-year-old, who made his debut for India in 2006, called it a day on Thursday after playing a crucial role in Team India's 2-1 victory against Spain to bag the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics 2024.
CREDIT: PTI
Lives up to his name till last match
Sreejesh, who played in 336 games for the country, played a key role in Team India winning the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after a hiatus of four decades.
Sreejesh lived up to his reputation as the wall of Indian Hockey even at the Paris Olympics 2024 and ended his illustrious career by guiding the team to yet another podium finish.
CREDIT: ANI
On Thursday, Sreejesh put all his experience to good use as he stood extra vigilant in front of the Indian goalpost, making several crucial saves, especially in the final minutes of the match, to ensure the country's second bronze medal in as many Olympic games.
Emotional farewell
Sreejesh, who had announced before the Olympics that this was his last outing for the national side, bid an emotional farewell to the game as he was carried on the shoulders of his fellow teammates.
CREDIT: PTI
Hailing from Kerala, which has produced many track and field athletes and football players for India but hardly any notable names in hockey, Sreejesh was an outsider and did not have an easy entry into the national team.
But eighteen years later, he is regarded as one of the best, if not the best, hockey players India has ever produced.
India salutes Sreejesh, the legend
Everyone, from sporting legends to business tycoons and political leaders, paid their admiration to Sreejesh, who leaves behind an unparalleled legacy.
?These moments may be fleeting, but their impact will last a lifetime! We'll cherish and relive the memories of this glorious achievement forever, holding them dear as a source of inspiration and pride.??#IndiaKaGame #Paris2024??? #ParisOlympic2024 #Hockey pic.twitter.com/qhOPRVF1ui
¡ª Dilip Kumar Tirkey (@DilipTirkey) August 8, 2024
Bronze it is! ? Huge congratulations to the Indian Hockey Team ??
¡ª Lakshya Sen (@lakshya_sen) August 8, 2024
A special shoutout to @16Sreejesh bhaiya our incredible goalkeeper on your retirement day. You've been the backbone of the team, and your saves will be remembered forever. ???? pic.twitter.com/FQ7zx1Yp3p
??????? PR Sreejesh! ?
¡ª Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 8, 2024
You¡¯ve kept the goal with all your heart for so many years. Your dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm for the sport have always been unmatched.
This Olympics, especially the match against Great Britain, where we played with 10 men for about 42¡ pic.twitter.com/RHd6dTH7Cx
Thank you @16Sreejesh for reminding us that:
¡ª anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) August 5, 2024
In sport, battle or business, Defending your ¡®home¡¯ is an essential element for victory.
You are my #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/52zwaYS8ny
All hockey lovers will miss the impeccable custodian at the goal post, as @16Sreejesh bids farewell to the beautiful game after a glorious career.
¡ª Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) August 8, 2024
You were the impregnable wall of #IndianHockeyTeam and your contribution to the Indian hockey will forever be cherished.¡ pic.twitter.com/34lhbzQLbE
Sreejesh to train next gen of Indian hockey
While he might not be playing for India anymore, Sreejesh has an even bigger responsibility at hand. He has been tasked with nurturing the next generation of players as the head coach of the Junior India Hockey team.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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