Competing in his third straight and possibly his last Olympics, Indian hockey team&rsquo;s seasoned goalkeeper <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/sreejeshs-contagious-confidence-will-boost-team-23180013" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PR Sreejesh</a> says he has made a lot of sacrifices and wants to make them count at all cost in Tokyo.
In the upcoming Olympics starting from July 23, eight-time champions India will look to break their over four-decade-long podium jinx at the Games.
<h2>Away from family</h2>
Since making his senior team debut in 2006, Sreejesh had only one dream in sight&mdash;to become an Olympic medallist. On the personal front, Sreejesh, 35, regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and a former India captain, said it was mentally tough for him to stay away from his family for so long amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also Read: <a class="ng-binding" href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/pr-sreejesh-appointed-fih-athletes-committee-member-23174309" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PR Sreejesh appointed FIH Athletes&rsquo; Committee member</a>
&ldquo;When you make these sort of sacrifices, I always try to put a question mark after that, like why am I staying away from my kids, my family? But I know the answer. &ldquo;We have a very good history in hockey and when I look back into my own career, I know I do have a lot of FIH medals, I have medals almost in every tournament but not one in World Cup or Olympics,&rdquo; Sreejesh said.
<h2>&lsquo;Could be my last Olympics&rsquo;</h2>
&ldquo;It can be my last Olympic Games so, for me, it&rsquo;s about what more I can achieve as an athlete, what I can get from this Olympics? That can only be a medal. That&rsquo;s a dream and that is helping me to sacrifice everything.
&ldquo;This is what is giving me extra energy. This is what is helping us to wake up from our bed every morning and work hard. This is a dream I have been living for the last 15 years and willing to do so for the next 15 years,&rdquo; he added.
After the Tokyo Games was postponed by a year due to the pandemic, the Indian team were confined to the four walls of the SAI centre in Bangalore.
Also Read: <a class="ng-binding" href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/Keen-on-pursuing-HI-Coaches-Education-Pathway--says-Sreejesh-22990216" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keen on pursuing HI Coaches Education Pathway, says Sreejesh</a>
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India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh wants maiden medal at Tokyo in his Olympics No. 3

Third could be the first

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