PR Sreejesh shares memory of Paris Olympics: ‘Crowd was cheering ‘Sreejesh-Sreejesh’ and I heard ‘Sachin-Sachin’!’

In the final few matches of the Paris Olympics, as his retirement neared and India looked to fight for another hockey medal at the Games, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh’s mind went back to one of his childhood sporting idols.

“When we were playing those last matches in Paris, the crowd was cheering ‘Sreejesh, Sreejesh!’ I could hear ‘Sachin, Sachin!'” he said. “Of course, I spent my entire childhood loving Sachin (Tendulkar). And when I heard the crowd showing me the kind of love that he used to get, I felt like even I have achieved something in my life.”

Memories from Paris, where Sreejesh played a leading role in the men’s hockey team winning bronze — the first time in 52 years that they have won medals at back-to-back Olympics; Sreejesh at the centre of both — will remain special for the 36-year-old.

Standards for the team have been raised, there remains a feeling among the group that they are not jubilant by merely winning bronze when gold was on the table. But nevertheless, Sreejesh leaves the stage with ease after capping off his career in style.

That ease was palpable during Wednesday’s celebration, as Sreejesh was feted by the federation, with prominent sportspersons and his entire team in attendance for an elaborate felicitation ceremony in New Delhi in which Hockey India officially announced that they will retire his jersey number 16 and that he will be the next coach of the junior hockey team.

He reconfirmed that his love for the game he has dedicated his life to is intact, but insists he has no regrets. The moment for family time has come.

New Delhi: Paris Olympics bronze medallist hockey player PR Sreejesh during an interview with PTI, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist Lav)

“I’ll miss everything about hockey though,” he said on the sidelines of the ceremony. “From warmups, to meetings, team bonding, abusing players, eating with the group… All of it.”

“My entire life has been about hockey and I’ve done everything around this group. I don’t know life beyond it, but I’m excited about what comes next,” he added.

The most memorable moment? “My first jersey. When I wore it and looked into a mirror, I saw my name and ‘India’… It was special.”

Focus now shifts on to his next assignment as junior coach. Sreejesh insists that despite entering unchartered territory where he will have to shape the promising talents of the next generation, he is clear about his philosophy.

“I’ll focus on correcting their basics,” he said. “I love Germany’s style, when they’re up 1-0, they win the game. I love the Australian style too, concede 10 goals, score 11. We need to stick to our Indian style too.”

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“Our way of playing is great, making it a skillful game. Use it, adapt it, play attacking hockey. But make less mistakes and control what you can, just the basics. If you’re passing, look for the right pass. Stop attackers on the run. Keep the ball in attack, try to hit within the goalpost. Save the goals that you can and don’t worry about conceding the ones that were extraordinary. It’s easy to teach kids hockey, but it’s hard to get them to stick to the basics.”

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