The Indian men’s hockey team repeated the feat of winning two consecutive Olympic bronze medals after 52 years. Won the bronze medal by defeating Spain 2-1 in Paris Olympics 2024. Earlier this had happened in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics. Indian team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh played an important role in this victory of India. Experienced goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, playing his last tournament, stood at the goalpost like a rock throughout the tournament.
In the last 18 years, whenever the Indian team was in trouble, Sreejesh was found standing like a wall. Sreejesh played 335 matches for India. In these 335 matches, he took balls hitting his body at the speed of a bullet, sometimes falling on his right side and sometimes on his face. Despite this the opposition team could not break this wall. The team always believed that with Sreejesh present, it would not be easy for the ball to cross the goal post.
Sreejesh Saved 5 goals against Spain
Sreejesh made countless saves for the Indian hockey team. Got the team out of trouble on countless occasions. He could never win the World Cup, but has now said goodbye to his brilliant career with two Olympic medals. Sreejesh saved 5 out of 6 goals in the bronze medal match against Spain.
About Sreejesh
| Birth | 1988, 8th May |
| Home | Kizhakkambalam village, Ernakulam, Kerala |
| Game | Hockey |
| Father | PV Ravindran |
| Mother | Usha |
| Education | St. Antony’s Lower Primary School, Kizhakkambalam |
Achievements
- 2024 – Paris Olympics
- 2020 – Tokiyo Olympics
- 2022 – Asian Games (Chin) – Gold Medal
- 2022 – Commonwealth Game (England) – Silver Medal
- 2023 – Aisan Champions Trophy (India) – Gold Medal
- 2021 – World Games Athlete of the Year Award
- 2017 – Padma Shri
How he Choose goalkeeper as career?
In childhood, he started his career as a sprinter. After this he started trying his hands in long jump and volleyball. At the age of 12, he joined GV Raja Sports School. Here his coach suggested him to do goalkeeping. Hockey coach Jayakumar selected him in the school team. After this PR Sreejesh became a professional goalkeeper.
On 13 July 2016, Sreejesh was handed over the responsibility of captain of the Indian hockey team, replacing Sardar Singh. In the Rio Olympics 2016, Sreejesh took the Indian hockey team to the quarter-finals of the tournament. PR Sreejesh was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2015 and Padma Shri in 2017. The 36-year-old goalkeeper also helped the national team win silver medals at two Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022. He has also won consecutive FIH Goalkeeper of the Year awards in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
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