The hockey legend who stood tall in cricket-mad India

The second India gained a bronze medal in hockey at Paris Olympics, the gamers burst into wild celebrations.

However PR Sreejesh quietly walked to 1 finish of the sector and bowed down in entrance of the goalpost – his dwelling for nearly 20 years.

He’ll miss that dwelling, however India will miss him much more. The goalkeeper, who performed his final worldwide match on Thursday, leaves an illustrious legacy behind him.

The “Wall of India”, as he’s popularly recognized, performed an important function in India’s podium end. His group have been up 2-1 and Spain have been combating laborious for an equaliser however Sreejesh thwarted their makes an attempt, particularly within the dying minutes of the match.

The instincts and the tactful dives he’s recognized for have been on full show. His affect on the sport might be understood from the truth that the Spaniards earned 9 penalty corners, however couldn’t convert any. Sreejesh and his defence group put their our bodies on the road to guard their lead till the top.

The previous Indian captain will also be credited with bringing India into competition for a medal. The knock-out match in opposition to Nice Britain went right into a penalty shootout and as soon as once more it was all the way down to the Wall to guard his group – he did precisely that with two masterful saves.

He was in tears after India misplaced the semi-final to Germany as he knew the elusive gold medal was out of his grasp, however he shortly turned his consideration to the bronze medal match. On Thursday, he was crying once more – however this time in pleasure.

Indians cried with him and social media was flooded with tributes to the person who carried the nation’s hopes and goals for practically 20 years.

India is thought to be cricket loopy and gamers from different sports activities typically don’t get the identical consideration, fame or cash. And for a hockey goalkeeper, it’s even more durable to be acknowledged.

“It’s tough to like a goalkeeper. He’s invisible, and is barely within the limelight when he makes a blunder. Once I was younger, I didn’t know who India’s goalkeeper was then,” he advised the Indian Specific in 2021.

Sreejesh by no means chased consideration or stardom; he simply preferred to get on with the job. It was this perspective that saved him going regardless of a bitter-sweet debut.

He had already made waves within the junior circuit along with his fast reflexes and talent to evaluate a ball’s trajectory in nano seconds.

However his debut within the senior group in 2006 on the South Asian Video games didn’t go that effectively. He carried out effectively within the match however missed an important save within the remaining in opposition to India’s arch-rival Pakistan. The criticism that adopted was a steep studying curve for him.

The subsequent few years have been powerful as he didn’t get a everlasting place within the group. Indian hockey additionally went by way of a foul section throughout this era, with the group failing to even qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

However Sreejesh continued to work laborious on his expertise and his second of redemption got here in 2011. It was the ultimate of the Champions Trophy and Pakistan was as soon as once more the opposing aspect.

He appeared rather more confident and made two essential penalty saves to win the sport for India.

Sreejesh was thrust into the limelight instantly after the match. He travelled with the group to the London Olympics in 2012 however India ended their marketing campaign with no medal.

Regardless of the group’s dismal efficiency, the custodian of the Indian goalpost continued to carry out effectively. His subsequent shining second got here when he was once more confronted with Pakistan within the 2014 Asian Video games remaining. He saved two penalties to finish India’s 16-year gold medal drought on the Video games.

But when there may be one second that sums up his character, grit and dedication, it needs to be the bronze medal match in opposition to Holland within the Hockey World League in 2015.

He was badly injured, his thighs have been coated in ice packs, his thumb was near damaged and his shoulder was coated in protecting surgical tapes. He may barely stroll the evening earlier than the match.

He joked that he appeared like a mummy as he took his place on the goalpost. However behind all of the ache and the humour was a resolve to win a medal for India in a significant worldwide match after greater than three many years. His beautiful saves within the penalty shootout helped India win the match in opposition to a superior group.

His place as a legend in Indian hockey was now cemented. He was quickly requested to steer the group on the Rio Olympics. They didn’t win a medal however reached the quarter-final – bettering their efficiency from London.

However he by no means let success get to his head, remaining humble and approachable and residing his life with out the trimmings of glamour often related to sport stars. This endeared him to his teammates and in addition Indians at giant.

An damage in 2017 threatened to finish his profession. Defying all odds, he made a comeback after two surgical procedures and several other months of rehabilitation.

However his efficiency took time to peak and critics mentioned his famed reflexes had slowed down. Youthful goalkeepers have been additionally making a declare for his spot. However he stayed away from the noise and continued to work laborious.

He was as soon as once more prepared to finish one other drought – a 41-year look forward to a hockey medal on the Olympics. He helped India win a bronze medal on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics along with his astute understanding of the sport.

He was capable of trip by way of many storms in his profession largely attributable to his upbringing.

Sreejesh was born right into a farming household within the southern state of Kerala.

He cherished sports activities however didn’t take pleasure in working as a lot. So after attempting out different sports activities and totally different enjoying positions in hockey, he selected goalkeeping because it didn’t contain a lot working.

He did effectively on the state degree and was known as for the nationwide trials in Delhi in 2003.

The 15-year-old arrived within the Indian capital after a practice journey of greater than 48 hours. He spoke little Hindi – the language spoken by most gamers on the camp.

Staying with principally Hindi-speaking boys within the hostel, he embraced the problem and learnt the language – together with some fairly vibrant phrases that have been typically heard throughout tense matches in later years.

He was chosen for the group however did not have a very good package to guard himself. His father then offered his cow to boost 10,000 rupees ($119; £93) to pay for the package.

Life got here full circle on Thursday when his father was surrounded by tons of of individuals in his home to observe his son win yet one more accolade for India in his final match.

For Sreejesh, his two youngsters will now turn out to be his precedence, alongside along with his new function as the top coach of the Indian junior hockey group.

“It is time for my youngsters to begin their journey and I am carried out, and their life begins,” he advised Olympics.com.

When requested about his legacy, he prefers to not discuss his achievements.

“I would like individuals to recollect me as a very good one that at all times had a smiling face,” the Hindustan Instances quoted him.

“And for the children and youngsters, once they pad up and step on to the hockey area, they need to really feel I wish to turn out to be a keeper like Sreejesh.”