From selling cow to buy kit to ‘God of Indian Hockey’: Remarkable journey of PR Sreejesh

New Delhi: PR Sreejesh always wanted to be a sportsperson but never in his wildest dreams imagined becoming the ‘God of Indian Hockey’. Sreejesh’s match-winning performance in the Paris 2024 Olympics men’s hockey quarterfinal against Great Britain earned him plaudits but the best praise came from a hockey legend himself.

“Sreejesh is the god of Indian hockey. He has made a lot of saves in the past, and he saved the match today and helped us reach the semi-finals. Sreejesh’s hard work is evident,” said former India international and current Hockey India president Dileep Tirkey.

Sreejesh was the star of the show as India edged past GBR 4-2 in a shootout following a 1-1 draw. The veteran goalkeeper lived up to his nickname ‘Wall of Indian Hockey’, standing tall to thwart the British players in a tense shootout and helping India qualify for the semifinal.

Having announced ahead of the 2024 Olympics, that the Paris Games will be his last assignment with India, Sreejesh has a golden chance to win back-to-back Olympic medals. The record eight-time men’s hockey gold medallists will face Germany in the semifinal on Tuesday.

The beginning

Sreejesh’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Born into a family of farmers in the Kizhakkambalam village of Ernakulam district in Kerala, Sreejesh didn’t have any interest in hockey. Sreejesh, a sports buff, started off with sprinting, volleyball, and long jump.

However, he took up hockey on his coach’s recommendation and never looked back since. Due to financial hardships, his father sold a cow to buy his first hockey kit.

After impressing in the Junior International Hockey in 2004 against Australia, Sreejesh made his senior debut at the 2006 South Asian Games in Colombo.

Rise to stardom

After a few low-key years, Sreejesh rose to stardom in 2011 and became a household name following a penalty stroke save against Pakistan in the 2011 Asian Champions Trophy Final.

He was instrumental in India’s victory in the 2013 Asia Cup and even won the prestigious Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament award.

Even in the losing cause, his performances never dipped. In India’s unsuccessful 2014 Champions Trophy campaign, Sreejesh bagged the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament award ahead of much-fancied German and Australian goalkeepers.

Sreejesh’s stocks rose dramatically in the 2014 Asian Games as his superb decision-making on the field helped India secure the gold medal in Incheon.

‘Wall of Indian Hockey’

More sensational performances at the 2016 Champions Trophy, 2016 Olympics and 2018 Asian Games, where India won a bronze medal in Jakarta, earned him the nickname ‘Wall of Indian Hockey’. Sreejesh’s goalkeeping skills, leadership skills and never-say-die attitude served as an inspiration for his teammates as India won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games to bag the first Olympic medal in over four decades.

With just a win separating India from clinching a second successive Olympic medal, what better way for Sreejesh to sign off on a historic high?

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