PR Sreejesh

Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh, widely recognized as PR Sreejesh, was born on May 8, 1988, in Kizhakkambalam, Kerala, into a family of farmers. His early interests veered towards athletics and volleyball, but at the age of 12, his path shifted to hockey after joining the GV Raja Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram. Encouraged by coaches Jayakumar and Ramesh Kolappa, he embraced the challenging role of a goalkeeper, a position he was told could singularly decide a match’s outcome. Sreejesh made his junior international debut in 2004, at just 16, and by 2006, he earned a place in the senior national squad. His early career highlight included being named the best goalkeeper during India’s victorious campaign at the Junior Hockey Asia Cup in 2008.

Sreejesh solidified his position as India’s premier goalkeeper in 2011 with a standout performance in the Asian Champions Trophy final against Pakistan, where his penalty shoot-out saves secured the title for India. This pivotal moment led to his inclusion in the London 2012 Olympic team, marking the beginning of a remarkable Olympic journey that spanned four Games, culminating in Paris 2024. He played a crucial role in India’s resurgence in international hockey, contributing significantly to a silver medal at the 2013 Asia Cup and a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, where his saves against Pakistan in the final were decisive. His consistent excellence earned him the title of best goalkeeper at the Champions Trophy in 2014 and 2018. In 2016, Sreejesh assumed the captaincy, leading India to a silver medal at the Champions Trophy and a quarter-final finish at the Rio Olympics.

The pinnacle of Sreejesh’s career arrived at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where his exceptional goalkeeping propelled India to a historic bronze medal, ending a 41-year Olympic medal drought in hockey. His contributions were further recognized with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and the World Games Athlete of the Year awards in 2021. He continued to lead India to further success, including a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, a silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and a bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Following the Paris Games, Sreejesh announced his retirement from international hockey after an 18-year career, concluding with his third FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award. Post-retirement, he transitioned into a mentoring and coaching role for the junior national team, ensuring his extensive experience benefits future generations of Indian hockey.