PR Sreejesh: The Rock Behind India’s Victory at the Paris Olympics
The Quarterfinal Heroics
When you talk about the Indian men’s hockey team victory, it cannot be without the mention of PR Sreejesh, the man who always stands like a rock at the goal post and denies the opposition’s attempts to score.
In the Paris Olympics quarterfinals against Great Britain on Sunday, it all boiled down to Sreejesh once again when the match was locked at 1-1 after the regulation time followed by the shoot-out.
Sreejesh’s emotions overflowed as he made the crucial save. Unable to contain his joy, he celebrated in a comical fashion, jumping up and down while seated on the turf. India pulled off a nail-biting 4-2 win in the shoot-out against Great Britain.
A Goalkeeper’s Daily Job
“(It is a) daily job of a goalie. Some days it’s a different effort (but) today is our day. Even in the shootout, the guys who took shots didn’t disappoint,” he told the broadcaster after India’s stunning win. “They scored and that gave me enough confidence,” the Indian goalkeeper said.
The Deciding Moments
Going into the men’s hockey quarterfinal match against Great Britain at the Paris Olympics, veteran India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh wondered if this would be his last match or if he would get two more games before calling time on an illustrious career. Sreejesh starred with some incredible saves to deny Great Britain and help his team to a 4-2 win in the penalty shoot-out after the regulation time ended with the score locked at 1-1.
Playing in his last international tournament, Sreejesh was the cynosure of all eyes as he consistently denied Great Britain scoring opportunities while the others rallied around him. In the penalty shoot-out, he saved the third and the fourth shots to help India win.
The Unyielding Guardian
Put yourself in Philip Roper’s shoes. You are in a penalty shootout, and you must score because a place in the semifinals is on the line. Eight seconds to do it and in front of you is a monster in an oversized yellow shirt and giant blue pads and a slightly scary helmet.
You go straight and he’s there. You turn left, looking for an angle, and he’s there. Somehow the big man keeps pace with you, turning as you turn, falling down to cover the low angle. Now’s your moment, you think. Lift it, and surely there’s no chance for the keeper. So, you do – and a giant blue glove paws it out.
This was his 23rd professional shootout and his 13th win, and it was never in doubt really. That’s why the Indian players, after 60 minutes of backs-to-the-wall hockey (44 of those with a man down) against Great Britain, celebrated like they’d already won when they had secured the 1-1 draw and took the match to the shootout. They knew their goalkeeper would carry them through. Because that’s what PR Sreejesh has been doing for nearly two decades now.
Celebrations and Emotions
That’s why, as soon as Raj Kumar Pal converted to seal the win 4-2, everyone ran to Sreejesh, mobbing him, hugging him, crying with him. Even the usually restrained head coach Craig Fulton sprinted out of the dugout to jump on his keeper, knocking him down with the force of his hug, and lying on top of him for a moment: emotions boiling over in a way we’ve never seen before.
Sreejesh’s Remarkable Journey
Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh is an Indian field hockey player from Kerala who plays as a goalkeeper and former captain of the Indian national team. He is regarded as the world’s best goalkeeper of his generation. He plays in the Hockey India League for Uttar Pradesh Wizards. Sreejesh played a vital role in the Indian national team’s bronze medal win at the 2020 Olympics hockey tournament.
He won FIH Player of the Year Awards (2020–21) for best male goalkeeper. He was part of the teams that won gold at the 2014 Asian Games and the 2022 Asian Games. He won a total of 16 international medals in his career until 2023 from the Olympics, FIH Hockey World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Asian tournaments combined.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Sreejesh was born on 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 at St. Antony’s Lower Primary School in Kizhakkambalam and studied until the sixth standard at 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 being 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, Chempazhanthy, Kerala.
Honours and Recognition
In 2017, the Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri for his work in the field of sports.
PR Sreejesh has been an indomitable force in Indian hockey, consistently showcasing his skills and resilience on the field. His performance in the Paris Olympics, especially against Great Britain, highlighted his ability to remain calm under pressure and deliver when it matters the most. Sreejesh’s journey from a small village in Kerala to becoming one of the world’s best goalkeepers is truly inspirational. His dedication, hard work, and passion for the game have made him a legend in Indian sports.
Source
https://www.thehansindia.com/sports/paris-olympics-we-had-full-confidence-in-sreejesh-says-dilip-tirkey-after-indias-win-over-gb-896795
https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/hockey/india-vs-great-britain-quarter-final-pr-sreejeshs-incredible-save-priceless-celebration-at-paris-olympics-sends-internet-into-frenzy
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/paris-olympics-2024/indiaparis/jumping-jack-pr-sreejeshs-jaw-dropping-save-and-priceless-celebration-in-shoot-out-against-great-britain-watch/articleshow/112266272.cms
https://sports.ndtv.com/olympics-2024/pr-sreejeshs-match-winning-save-that-led-india-to-paris-olympics-2024-hockey-semifinals-watch-6261096
