Veteran India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh is all set for his last gig with the Indian hockey team. The Harmanpreet Singh-led side will take on World No. 8 Spain in the bronze medal match at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. It will be his last outing for India as Sreejesh had announced his retirement plans ahead of his fourth appearance at the Olympics.
The Indian team suffered a massive heartbreak on Tuesday night after losing 3-2 to Germany in the hockey semi-finals. They will now fight for the bronze medal to avoid returning home empty-handed.
Ahead of his final hurrah, Sreejesh described his international career as ‘nothing short of extraordinary’ and expressed his gratitude to the countrymen for believing in him.
“As I stand between the posts for the final time, my heart swells with gratitude and pride. This journey, from a young boy with a dream to the man defending India’s honour, has been nothing short of extraordinary,” he wrote on ‘X’.
“Today, I play my last match for India. Every save, every dive, every roar of the crowd will forever echo in my soul. Thank you, India, for believing in me, for standing by me. This is not the end, but the beginning of cherished memories.
“Forever a custodian of dreams,” he added.
As I stand between the posts for the final time, my heart swells with gratitude and pride. This journey, from a young boy with a dream to the man defending India’s honour, has been nothing short of extraordinary.Today, I play my last match for India. Every save, every dive,… pic.twitter.com/pMPtLRVfS0
— sreejesh p r (@16Sreejesh) August 8, 2024
After making his debut at the 2006 South Asian Games, Sreejesh was a part of various memorable wins for India, including a gold in the 2014 Asian Games and a bronze medal in the 2018 Asiad in Jakarta-Palembang.
He was also part of the Asian Champions Trophy-winning side in 2018, and the 2019 FIH Men’s Series Finals champion team in Bhubaneswar.
The veteran goalkeeper has been in good form as he produced some sensational saves in the tournament, including two in the quarterfinal shoot-out against Great Britain, to help India seal a second consecutive Olympic semifinal spot. He had played a pivotal role in India’s bronze-medal-winning feat at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
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