Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised hockey stalwart PR Sreejesh as he retires, stating that “the team will miss him” as the veteran goalkeeper announced his retirement following a stellar career and the bronze medal win at the Paris Olympics.
During a meeting with the Indian Paris Olympic contingent at his residence on Independence Day, PM Modi also took photos with the athletes. Sreejesh, along with captain Harmanpreet Singh, presented Modi with Indian hockey jerseys and memorabilia.
In their conversation, the Prime Minister inquired about Sreejesh’s retirement plans. Sreejesh explained, “I had been contemplating retirement for the past few years. My teammates often joked about when I would leave. I started attending national camps in 2002 and played my first international match in 2004. Representing my country for 20 years, I felt retiring on the grand stage of the Olympics would be a fitting end to my career.”
Also Read: Paris Olympics A Turning Point For Indian Sports, Says PM Modi
PM Modi responded, “The team will miss you, and they have given you a wonderful farewell.” Sreejesh added, “After we lost the semifinal, the team was demotivated. However, before the last match, my teammates encouraged each other, saying, ‘We have to win this for Sreejesh Bhai.’ I thanked them from the Olympic podium and announced my retirement after our victory.”
The Paris Olympics featured some of the Indian team’s most memorable performances. They defeated Australia 3-2, marking their first victory over the Australians in the Olympics in 52 years. In the Quarter Finals, the team delivered an extraordinary performance against Great Britain. Wherein It defeated a man down for over 40 minutes. They forced penalty shootouts and won 4-2, thanks to Sreejesh’s crucial saves.
Reflecting on their performance, captain Harmanpreet Singh, who scored 10 goals in the tournament, said, “Despite losing a player in the first quarter, our coaching staff’s support was invaluable. We visualized every challenging situation and adhered to our game plan. Beating Australia after 52 years was a significant achievement and a record in itself.”
With their bronze medal win in Paris, the Indian men’s hockey team secured back-to-back medals for the first time since the 1972 Munich Olympics. The team has earned their 13th overall Olympic medal.
