Bengaluru, (UNI) Hockey India on Monday extended congratulations to PR Sreejesh, India’s legendary goalkeeper, after he announced that the Paris 2024 Olympics would be his final international tournament.
The 36-year-old’s declaration has galvanized Team India, inspiring them to launch the “Win it for Sreejesh” campaign, aimed at rallying global hockey fans to support their bid for Olympic glory.
With a distinguished career spanning over a decade and 328 international caps, Sreejesh has represented India in three Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and numerous World Cups. He is set to make his fourth Olympic appearance in Paris.
Sreejesh’s journey began at the 2010 World Cup, and he has since been integral to India’s successes, including the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games, a bronze at the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, and victories at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy and the 2019 FIH Men’s Series Finals in Bhubaneswar.
His pivotal role in securing a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and aiding India’s third-place finish in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2021/22 further cemented his legacy.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions, Sreejesh received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021 and was named World Games Athlete of the Year the same year. He also earned consecutive FIH Goalkeeper of the Year awards in 2021 and 2022.
Last year, he played a key role in India’s gold-medal win at the Asian Games, ensuring their qualification for Paris 2024. “As I prepare for my last outing in Paris, I look back with immense pride and forward with hope.
This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I am forever grateful for the love and support from my family, teammates, coaches, fans, and Hockey India. Thank you for believing in me,” Sreejesh expressed.
Reflecting on his decision to retire post-Olympics, Sreejesh shared that he had discussed it with his team. “My teammates have stood beside me through the tough and the ardent times. We all want to give our absolute best here in Paris, and certainly, the desire is to change the color of our medal.”
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey lauded Sreejesh’s career, saying, “Sreejesh was hardly 18 or 19 years old when I first saw him in the Indian camp, and if I recall right, he made his international debut when I was captaining the Indian team. He is a very special player, and my heart fills with joy and gratitude for his exemplary contribution to Indian hockey.
“This outing in Paris will certainly be a special one for the team, and I believe Sreejesh’s decision will only encourage the team further to stand on the podium yet again and make it truly special not just for Sreejesh but for the entire hockey fraternity. I wish him and the team the very best.”
Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Sreejesh is a legend, an inspiration to the entire nation, and I congratulate him on a fantastic career studded with several laurels that have brought honor and pride to the nation. Hockey India respects his decision to retire after the Paris Olympic Games, making this a truly special tournament not just for the team but also for Indian hockey fans. I wish him and the team the best in their campaign.”
Captain Harmanpreet Singh affirmed the team’s dedication, saying, “Paris 2024 will indeed be a special tournament. We have decided to dedicate our campaign to the legend PR Sreejesh. He has been an inspiration for all of us, and I still remember his mentorship in the 2016 Junior World Cup when we lifted the title. It was the beginning of many of our careers in international hockey, and he has shaped each one of our careers in his own way. We want to ‘Win it for Sreejesh,’ and we are all the more encouraged to stand on the podium once again.”
As the Indian hockey team gears up for Paris 2024, the entire nation stands united in their support, hopeful for a triumphant finish to Sreejesh’s illustrious career.