Sreejesh bids adieu! Celebrating the end of an era in Indian hockey

When PR Sreejesh embarked on his final Olympic journey with the Indian hockey team in Paris he carried three specially engraved sticks as part of his kit One bore his wifersquos name while the other two were inscribed with the names of his two childrenIt was the stick engraved with the name lsquoAneeshyarsquo that he chose for the unforgettable quarterfinal match against England a game that India won 42 in a penalty shootout The victory was largely attributed to the steadfast defense of the Kerala goalkeeper who bid farewell to the sport last weekHe had three sticks for the Paris gamesOne for penalty shootout and two for regular games For regular matches he used the sticks with our kids names Anushree and Sreeansh written on them Aneeshya shared with PTI Bhasha as she marked her husbands perfect retirement with the team securing a second consecutive bronze medal last Thursday While she is pleased that her husband will now have more time at home the devoted fan in her mourns the absence of Sreejeshrsquos inspiring presence at the goalpost for Indian hockeyWith a career spanning nearly two decades Sreejeshs journey has been a remarkable tapestry woven with unforgettable moments extraordinary skill and unwavering dedication It was only fitting that he was honored with a historic farewell ceremony on Tuesday becoming the first Indian hockey player to receive such a tributeThe event was marked by the presence of hockey legends including former captains Sardar Singh Dilip Tirkey and Mir Ranjan Negi as well as former coach Harendra Singh The entire Indian bronzewinning team also attended all dressed in identical red jerseys emblazoned with Sreejeshs name and number Each speaker at the ceremony used words like inspiring motivating legendary hardworking and relentless to underscore Sreejeshs exceptional skill total commitment and the camaraderie he fostered within the teamSardar recalled He set an example for the younger generation In my ten years of experience I have never seen him take a rest He was always on the field never resting His dedication has inspired manySreejeshs ambitions were lofty from the outset At a time when the Indian team languished outside the top 20 a young Sreejesh dreamed of reaching the pinnacle Sree always said Machaa we are ranked 1718 we need to become number one He faced numerous difficulties and setbacks moments when it seemed quitting would be easier but he never wavered Sardar addedThe journey was not without its trials Sreejesh faced significant challenges including being dropped from the team after periods of underperformance Yet his resilience remained steadfast Had it been any other player they might have left the sport around 200910 But Sree doesnrsquot give up easily He struggled day and night and even when not selected he continued to work tirelessly said Harendra who introduced Sreejesh to the national campThere is no greater legend in modern hockey than Sreejesh He has been the best motivator and has performed the often thankless role of a goalkeeper with remarkable dedication he addedA true patriot Sreejeshs spirit shone brightly before the bronze medal match in Paris He told captain Harmanpreet Singh Macha the hockey our team played today in the semifinal against Germany and the love we have received is monumental We have the perfect chance to restore hockey to its former glory The team went on to secure backtoback bronze medals at the Olympics fulfilling Sreejeshrsquos visionDilip Tirkey president of Hockey India emphasized There is no better legend of modern hockey than Sreejesh He has been the best motivator and has performed the often thankless role of goalkeeping for so longAs the last line of defense Sreejesh continually inspired his defenders to elevate their performance Midfielder Manpreet Singh described him as a guiding force saying He has been like an elder brother to me He always guided me from behind and I appreciated thatI would ask him to keep talking to me from behind because it gave me confidence knowing that Sree was backing me up He has inspired so many and taught us countless lessons Manpreet addedCoach Craig Fulton highlighted that Sreejeshs success was not solely due to his natural talent Despite his innate ability Sreejesh had a robust work ethic He continually sought to improve his skills Fulton notedHe has been immense for us As a person he wears his heart on his sleeve which is a beautiful trait As a player he had the talent and skill but he never rested on his laurels To stay at the top of goalkeeping requires constant improvement and Sreejesh epitomized this Fulton concludedSreejeshs career marked by dedication resilience and exemplary leadership has left an indelible mark on Indian hockey His legacy will endure celebrated not only for his achievements on the field but also for the inspiration and passion he brought to the sportWith quotes from PTI