Tag: Hockey

Aneeshya Sreejesh, the wife of legendary Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, is experiencing a bittersweet mix of emotions following her husband’s retirement from international hockey. While she is overjoyed that he will have more time at home, she is also saddened by the loss of his galvanizing presence on the field.

Sreejesh, who was a key member of the Indian men’s hockey team that clinched a second successive bronze medal at the Olympic Games, played his final match for India in the third-place playoff against Spain. His retirement marks the end of an illustrious career that spanned over a decade and included numerous accolades, including the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri.

Aneeshya, a former long-jumper and Ayurveda doctor, expressed her conflicting emotions. “As a fan, I will definitely miss him on the field, but as his wife, I will get more of his time. So I am happy and sad at the same time,” she said.

She is eagerly awaiting Sreejesh’s return home, where she plans to prepare his favorite traditional Kerala meals. “He loves it so much and I know he must be craving it,” she said.

The family is planning a grand welcome for Sreejesh, who has been a role model for the young brigade of Indian hockey. “There were around 50 people here. Everyone congratulated us and it is a moment of immense pride that we won two consecutive medals in the Olympics,” Aneeshya said.

Not many know that Sreejesh used three special sticks in the Paris Olympics, each with the names of his children and wife written on them. In the quarterfinal match against Britain, he used the stick with Aneeshya’s name on it.

“He has three sticks for the Paris games…One for penalty shootout and two for regular games. For regular matches, he used the sticks with our kids’ names Anushree and Sriyansh written on them,” she said. “For the shootout, he used the stick with my name written on it and it also has my favorite color.”

Aneeshya revealed that Sreejesh will soon make a decision about his future plans. “His focus was only on the Paris Olympics only till now but now the Games are over. He will tell about future plans in due course of time,” she said.

She also shared a valuable lesson she has learned from her husband. “I have learnt positivity from Sreejesh. He always tells me that ups and downs will be there in life…He says that don’t think about the past and always look forward. Whatever happened has happened and the best way is to look ahead,” she said.

Indian hockey legend PR Sreejesh has bid farewell to international hockey on a high note, helping India secure a second consecutive Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo. The 36-year-old goalkeeper announced his retirement before the Games, and his final match was a fitting tribute to his illustrious career.

In a thrilling third-place play-off, India defeated Spain 2-1, with Sreejesh playing a pivotal role. He made several crucial saves throughout the match, including a penalty shootout stop that sealed the victory.

“This is the better way to finish an Olympic Games, with a medal,” said Sreejesh after the match. “We are not going home empty-handed, that’s a great thing.”

Sreejesh’s retirement marks the end of an era for Indian hockey. He has been a mainstay in the team for over a decade, and his leadership and experience have been invaluable. He was part of the bronze-winning team in Tokyo in 2020, and his performance in Paris was equally impressive.

“The team did a wonderful job and made this game so beautiful,” said Sreejesh. “Tokyo has a special place in my heart. That (bronze) gave us back the confidence that we can win medals (in Olympics).”

Sreejesh’s legacy as India’s greatest goalkeeper is secure. He has played over 300 matches for his country, and his contributions have been immense. He has been a role model for young players and an inspiration to the entire nation.