Paris Olympic 2024, PR Sreejesh: India has won the bronze medal by defeating Spain 2-1 in the Paris Olympics. After leading the country to victory, Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has put an end to his 18-year long hockey career. Let us know about this iconic goalkeeper.
Kerala-born veteran goalkeeper Sreejesh was born on 8 May 1988 in Kizhakkambalam village in Ernakulam district of Kerala to P V Ravindran and Usha, who belonged to a farmer family. He completed his primary education at St Antony’s Lower Primary School in Kizhakkambalam and studied till sixth grade at St Joseph’s High School in Kizhakkambalam. As a child, he trained as a sprinter before moving to long jump and volleyball.
At the age of 12, he joined GV Raja Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram. It was here that his coach suggested him to take up goalkeeping. He turned professional after being selected by coach Jayakumar at school, following which he played in the Nehru Cup before playing at school. He graduated in History from Sree Narayana College in Kollam, Kerala.
An icon: Professional career Sreejesh made his junior national team debut in 2004 in a match against Australia in Perth. He made his senior national team debut in 2006 at the South Asian Games in Colombo. After India’s victory in the 2008 Junior Asia Cup, he received the ‘Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ award.
won gold in Asian games
At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, he played a key role in India’s gold medal win when he saved two penalty strokes against Pakistan in the final. On 13 July 2016, Sreejesh was named the captain of the Indian hockey team, taking over from Sardar Singh. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Sreejesh led the Indian hockey team to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
At the Tokyo Olympics, on 5 August 2021, Sreejesh played a vital role in India winning the bronze medal after 41 years by defeating Germany.
PR Sreejesh Achievements: Honours He Won The ‘Keeper of Dreams’ won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, gold at the 2022 Asian Games in China, a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England and a gold medal at the Asian Champions Trophy in 2023. He also won gold at the 2014 Asian Games and a bronze medal at the 2018 Asiad in Jakarta-Palembang. He was also part of the Asian Champions Trophy winning team in 2018 and the 2019 FIH Men’s Series Final champion team in Bhubaneswar.