Why Sreejesh’s torrent of gaalis is sweet music for Manpreet and why the hyper versatile Manpreet is kept away from Sreejesh’s goalie pads

Two former India captains. Two stalwarts of Indian hockey over the last decade and then some years. Two men who, between them, have seen the lows of London 2012 and the highs of Tokyo 2020 spanning their careers. And come Paris 2024, PR Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh will represent the Indian men’s hockey team for what will be their fourth Olympic Games appearance.

Sreejesh, a giant of the game between the goalposts, has confirmed that Paris will be his last event as he brings down the curtains on an epic career. Manpreet, four years younger, could continue playing on for a while longer but perhaps Paris will be his last Olympics too.

In a candid chat with The Indian Express at the SAI centre in Bengaluru before leaving for Europe, Sreejesh and Manpreet look back at their journeys through the prism of their three previous Olympic Games appearances.

Q: When you started playing hockey, did you think about four Olympics?

PR Sreejesh: Surely Manpreet must have thought about it, his village already had so many Olympians, he was destined. (Both laugh)

Manpreet Singh: No, definitely not four. I perhaps knew I’d go for one at least, that was the dream. When I went to London 2012, I was the youngest. My teammates didn’t let me feel so much pressure. They used to watch my back all the time, especially Sree bhai. I am not just saying it because he is sitting in front of me now, but all the time, he has been there for me. I have spent a lot of time with him. So much so that, I even like it when he gives us gaalis on the field. To be honest, I keep telling him that I don’t have any problem, scold me if I have done anything wrong on the field. I feel good, knowing that he is there behind me.

Sreejesh: There is no point in pampering on the field. See, hockey matches can get really intense. There is no time to be like ‘son, it’s OK, don’t worry’. In the heat of the moment, we give gaalis. We have to do the same in training.

See you know my story, I came from a background where I had never seen hockey. My only intention in taking up the sport was to get grace marks for my school exams. Olympics was far-fetched. But looking back at our journey, I first met Manpreet when he came into the core group around 2011. At London both of us were fairly young, I was 22-23, Manpreet was around 19. Everyone was excited because we did not qualify in 2008, so for us even going to Olympics felt like a big thing. We were like children who were given toys, just that excitement of something new. We are going to become Olympians, we are happy to participate.

“He gives the sweet type gaali, it is always meaningful. And he doesn’t just concern himself with goalkeeping, he speaks to defenders and midfielders also,” – Manpreet Singh on Sreejesh. (PTI)

Q: But eventually London 2012 must have been a big learning.

Sreejesh: We didn’t even realise that we are going to the Olympics to win medals. Sreejesh, Olympian. Manpreet, Olympian. That was big. But when we came back after losing all matches, we realised how big a mistake we have made. It was a disaster. More than a learning, we just took the pain to heart. Everywhere we went, we were made fun of.

Manpreet: ‘Tum log ek match toh jeet jaate, last match toh jeet jaate’. We were told at least we should have won the last match. It felt horrible.

Sreejesh: From then, there was a change. The coaches were changed, Roelant Oltmans and Terry Walsh changed our system. Then our race started, to get better. 2013 Asia Cup final. Then 2014 was a great year for us, with Asian Games gold and CWG silver. And through it all, our bonding got better and better.

Q: Then came 2016. Sreejesh, you were the captain. But a tough one in Rio too.

Sreejesh: For Rio, we realized that Olympics was a really serious matter but from that experience we learned the most important lesson… that we should take no team easy. Then all this experience came in handy in Tokyo, where our first concern was that we should not be easy on any team because any team can stop us. Any team can ruin your path.

Manpreet: Yes, that match against Canada (last match of group stage in Rio) still hurts. We went into that match thinking this was Canada, we can easily beat them. But we drew against them, and we had to play the quarterfinals against Belgium. It could have been a match against Spain.

“I always tell him that I won’t leave my goalie pads in front of him, because he will become a goalkeeper too,” – Sreejesh on Manpreet’s versatility. (PTI)

Q: Then came Tokyo, where you reached your careers’ high points.

Manpreet: The very good thing about Tokyo was that Sree was there with all his experience, I had already played at the Olympics. Harman, Bob (Rupinder) were there. So we shared all that we knew with younger members. We knew that the Olympic village is like a mela, there are 10,000+ athletes, so you need to make sure you don’t feel lost there. Everyone had it in their mind that yes, we have to do something new, whatever we have faced in the first two Olympics, we shouldn’t here. And we have to give our best in every single match, turn up again and again. In the pool, after that one match against Australia (lost 1-7), our mindset changed, yaar we can’t play like this.

Sreejesh: Actually because of Covid, the distractions were very few. Normally, where we used to go out for a walk or something in the evening, this time there was a fear that your Games could end if you went out and caught something. We all just stayed indoors. And the Australia match was a wake-up call at the right time.

The boys are pushing their limits, aiming for their goal at the Olympics! 🏑#Hockey #HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HockeyLayegaGold #WinItForSreejesh#Paris2024
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— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 24, 2024

Q: What was your first impression of Manpreet?

Sreejesh: Manpreet has been the same since he came into the team. Very hyper, jumping around everywhere. (Points to his leg) Even now see how big a cut he has on his leg, that’s how he is in training. Almost 13 years in a sport like hockey being an outfield player is not at all easy. It’s his dedication, discipline, determination, passion and love for the game. And the support he gets from his family. Other main thing about him is staying positive. Mistakes happen, anyone can have a bad game. We get angry too but staying positive and supporting each other is key.

Not many will understand what it takes to play your fourth Olympics, to be at your peak for so long… when it comes to a sport like hockey, it’s physically challenging, fitness is so important. Being a goalkeeper, my experience is helping me a lot to make up for growing old. But he has to challenge all the best players around the world in the heat of the battle.

Q: And he has evolved his game too.

Sreejesh: That’s a brilliant thing about him. He can play anywhere on the field. I mean when the coach needs him to come into defense, he does that. If you want him as a attacking midfielder, he can do that. I always tell him that I won’t leave my goalie pads in front of him, because he will become a goalkeeper too! (Both laugh)

Q: What impact has Sreejesh had on you?

Manpreet: His support to me. Since I have come into the team, he is always there. Any time I feel low, I will talk to him. I feel good. He will guide me. Even on the Australia tour, there was a moment when I made a bad defensive error, I gave a straight pass to the opponents and we conceded. It was a blunder. But he was there for me, whatever happened is done, focus on the next moment. He gives the sweet type gaali, it is always meaningful. And he doesn’t just concern himself with goalkeeping, he speaks to defenders and midfielders also.

Q: Put on your interviewer caps. What is the one thing you’d like to ask each other?

Sreejesh: Now, don’t ask me about retirement! (Note: We do now know about it, as Sreejesh will retire after Paris 2024).

Manpreet: The only thing I will tell you is, after you retire, come back to coaching. It is a necessity. The experience you have, he should share that with generations to come.

Sreejesh: Definitely. I have trained under more than 20 coaches. So there is no use in sitting home with all the experience that I have. And the second thing is like I always feel like we need, in Indian hockey, we need to develop Indian coaching strength, because we cannot depend on foreigners every time. We can use them to develop our knowledge but it is important that we develop our strength so definitely this has to happen. I will definitely come down, not just to help the senior team but in the junior level so that we can work at the grassroots level.

Sreejesh: So Manpreet, you are going to be the next guy after Dhanraj Pillay, going on to be the record-breaker, 400 matches, and more.

Manpreet: (Laughs) But for that I will need to focus heavily on my fitness. I shouldn’t be playing just for the sake of it, I have to earn my place with my fitness and not by force. If my fitness is good enough that I can compete with the youngsters and other good players, then I will continue but otherwise I won’t. Hockey is just so fast nowadays.

Sreejesh: That is how it should be. After a time you can’t force yourself. Because there is also self-dignity. You shouldn’t feel that you are worthy for the team but the other ten people don’t think so.

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