PR Sreejesh: Know Indian hockey legend who ended his career with a Olympic bronze medal

As Indian keeper PR Sreejesh drew curtains on his 18-year-long hockey career after helping India to a bronze medal in the ongoing Paris Olympics after defeating Spain 2-1, here’s all you need to know about the iconic custodian between the sticks.

A star is born: Early life

Sreejesh was born 8 May 1988, in Kizhakkambalam village, in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, to P. V. Raveendran and Usha, a family of farmers. He completed his primary education in St. Antony’s Lower Primary School in Kizhakkambalam and he studied until the sixth standard in St. Joseph’s High School in
Kizhakkambalam. As a kid, he trained as a sprinter, before moving on to long jump and volleyball. At 12, he joined the GV Raja Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram. This was where his coach suggested that he take up goalkeeping. He became a professional after he was picked by hockey coach Jayakumar at
the school, following which he played at the school before playing at the Nehru Cup. He completed his graduation in History from Sree Narayana College, Kollam, Kerala.

An icon is made: Professional career

Sreejesh made the Junior national team in 2004, in a match against Australia in Perth, in 2004. He made his debut in the senior national team in 2006, at the South Asian Games in Colombo. Following India’s win at the 2008 Junior Asia Cup, he was awarded the ‘Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament. At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, he starred in Indian’s gold medal win, when he saved two penalty strokes against Pakistan in the final. On 13 July 2016, Sreejesh was given the responsibilities of 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 quarterfinals of the tournament.

At the Tokyo Olympics, on 5 August 2021, Sreejesh played a key role in defeating Germany to clinch the bronze medal for India after 41 years.

A figure away from controversy: How he became an icon in Kerala

It took a while for his state of Kerala to warm up to the Indian keeper. Something that Sreejesh understood.

“It’s difficult to love a goalkeeper. He is invisible, and is only in the limelight when he makes a blunder. When I was young, I didn’t know who India’s goalkeeper was then. Besides, I am not someone who goes behind attention, never gone behind superstar-dom,” he had said in an interaction with the Indian Express back in 2021.

But the state which was starved of a sporting hero or heroine at that time after IM Vijayan or Anju Bobby George, finally found a sportsman befitting of the stature of an icon. Sreejesh with his genuineness struck an invisible chord with the masses. Also, the 2014 Asian Games gold medal also helped build his stature. However, more than his sporting achievements, his demeanor would play a huge role in endearing himself to the masses.

He never spun a scandal, was utmost gamely, remained grounded, never threw celebrity tantrums, never ripped off in luxury cars or flaunted monstrous houses, never plunged into ill-advised business ventures. He spoke, talked and walked like an everyman one sees on the street.

PR Sreejesh’s achievements: The honours he won

The ‘custodian of dreams’ has won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, won gold in the 2022 Asian Games in China, a silver medal in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England and a gold medal in the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy.

He also won a gold in the 2014 Asian Games and a bronze medal in the 2018 Asiad in Jakarta-Palembang. He was also part of the Asian Champions Trophy-winning side in 2018, and the 2019 FIH Men’s Series Finals champion team in Bhubaneswar.

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