New Delhi. Describing PR Sreejesh as the epitome of patience, Indian hockey stalwarts said that he is not only the best goalkeeper of modern hockey but has also been an inspiration for the youth on and off the field. Sreejesh bid farewell to hockey after winning the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics and will now start a new innings as the coach of the junior team.
Former Indian men’s hockey team coach Harendra Singh said at a farewell ceremony organised by Hockey India, “When I saw Sreejesh play for the first time in July 2003 in Trivandrum, I sensed his talent. His journey from there was not easy. If it would have been someone else, he would have given up long ago after seeing so much struggle.” The coach of the Indian women’s team said, “If someone wants to learn the definition of patience, then learn it from Sreejesh. He has set very high standards for the upcoming goalkeepers.”
On the other hand, Hockey India President and India’s legendary defender Dilip Tirkey said, “When we used to play, we used to call Sreejesh for warm-up. From there to winning the bronze medal for the Indian team, Sreejesh has come a long way.” He said, “That is why we organized a farewell ceremony to appreciate his career, which is a new beginning in Indian hockey and Sreejesh deserves it.” Captain Harmanpreet Singh said that Sreejesh taught young players like him the importance of hard work, mental strength and perseverance towards the goal.
He said, “I made my debut in 2015 and played with him for the first time. In this journey of so many years, he made many sacrifices and taught us a lot. Before the bronze medal match in Paris Olympics, I told him that brother this is the last match and his reply was that I will play like this only.” He said, “We had his poster in the dressing room from the very first day in Paris and we had to win the medal for him only.” Manpreet Singh, who has played four Olympics, said, “In my entire career, Sreejesh was like a brother to me who guided me at every step. From behind, he used to constantly scold us and also praise us, which we liked. We will miss him a lot.” On this occasion, shooter Manu Bhaker, who won two medals in Paris Olympics, former Olympian Harbinder Singh, Ajitpal Singh, Mir Ranjan Negi, Sardar Singh were also present.
Seeing her ability, I started getting annoyed with her, Sreejesh recalled his love story
He was annoyed with Anisha because she was more capable than him in school but later fell in love with her. Just like Bollywood, the love story of PR Sreejesh and his wife started from GVN Sports School in Kerala. Anisha, who was a long jumper, finally agreed to make Sreejesh, who is going to be the great goalkeeper of Indian hockey in the future, her life partner.
Sreejesh, who retired from the national team after the Paris Olympics, told PTI editors on Tuesday how their love story blossomed. He was studying in a sports school in Kannur when Anishya joined it in 2001. He said, “I was a good student, a topper. A superstar and a favourite of the teachers. She came and turned out to be better than me. Good marks in everything. I would get 35 or 42 out of 50 but she would get 49 and 50.” He said, “I started hating her. We became enemies but then that hatred turned into love.” After this love story that started two decades ago, both of them became life partners a decade ago.
Sreejesh had also written Anisha’s name on one of his hockey sticks in the Paris Olympics. In an interview given to Bhasha some time back, Anisha had said that as a wife she is happy with Sreejesh’s retirement as now he will get more time for her but as his fan she is sad that she will not be able to see him on the field. Sreejesh told that when he started playing hockey, the purpose was to find a good job which was also necessary to convince Anisha’s parents. He said, “In Kerala, the girl’s father will agree for marriage only if you are financially capable.”
Seeing his farewell, Sreejesh remembered Sachin
“Since childhood we have been hearing the name of Sachin Tendulkar and heard the noise of Sachin Sachin in the field, when I heard Sreejesh Sreejesh in the last four matches of the Olympics, I remembered his farewell from cricket”, said the great goalkeeper of Indian hockey P R Sreejesh. After Tokyo, Sreejesh also bid farewell to hockey by winning the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics. Along with his farewell, the number 16 jersey was also retired from Indian hockey.
When asked what he will miss the most after retirement, Sreejesh told Bhasha after his felicitation ceremony, “Just like Sachin had said that he will never forget the noise of ‘Sachin Sachin’ in the field, I too was hearing ‘Sreejesh Sreejesh’ from the last four matches in the Olympics. We have only heard Sachin Sachin in our childhood and at that moment I felt for once that I have also done something for the country.”
He said, “I will miss wearing pads while entering the field. People put their right foot first but I used to put my left foot first.” This veteran who has played 336 matches for India said, “I will miss everything in hockey – warm-up, room, meetings, abusing players on the field, eating together. My life has been with the team till now, I don’t know anything without them. Now I will have to think about life without them.” Sreejesh, who is going to become the coach of the junior team, said, “I have not yet thought about what retired life will be like. What will I do when I go home and wake up on the first day, now I will have to teach my mind that the routine of the last twenty-four years has changed. Anyway, this will not happen, I will not spoil my fitness routine.”
He said, “For the last 24 years, I have had the same routine. Training, gym, team meetings etc. I have done nothing else in life. Onam is coming now. Till now, while eating payasam (kheer) on Onam, I had to stop at two spoons because I feared I would get fat. Now all this will change.” He said that he is proud of his career because his children are proud of him.
He said, “My son has understood that now his father will stay with us for a longer time. He says that father, play more because everyone in school knows that their father plays for the country. He showed my medals in the assembly. This is a proud moment for me because my children are proud of me.” Thanking his wife Anishya, he said, “At the time of marriage, I told her that you are a doctor and will remain so for life but I am a player and my career is very short, so as long as I am playing, let me play. You take care of the house. She never said no. She took care of my parents, children and the house and if she was not there, I would not have reached here.”