PR Sreejesh after India’s bronze medal win at Paris Olympics 2024© AFP
Following the victory, Sreejesh bowed down in front of the goal post while his teammates celebrated the triumph around him. When asked about his emotions at that moment, Sreejesh said that it was ‘home’ for him for the last 24 years and he felt that he should say goodbye in the ‘proper way’.
“It was home for the last 24 years and when you are saying goodbye to that, it should be in a proper way. For the Indians, it is our culture to go in front of the goal. The best thing to do that because the supported faced me. It helped me, It supported every time when there is up and down,” he added.
Sreejesh was part of the team that won two Asian Games gold, two Commonwealth Games silver and four Asian Champions Trophy gold medals. He has about 100-odd medals and awards adorning his trophy cabinet.
Sreejesh, who was honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021, is only the second sportsperson from India to win the prestigious World Games Athlete of the Year Award, in 2021.
Besides, he has won consecutive FIH Goalkeeper of the Year Awards in 2021 and 2022.
(With PTI inputs)
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