Veteran India hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh on Monday won the prestigious World Games Athlete of the Year for his performance in 2021. He is only the second Indian to receive the accolade after Indian women's hockey captain Rani Rampal who win it in 2020 for a stellar show in 2019.
"I'm very honoured to win this award. First of all, a big thank you to FIH for nominating me for this award, and secondly thanks to all the Indian hockey lovers around the world, who voted for me," Sreejesh said in a statement.
Sreejesh beat competition from sport climber Alberto Ginés López of Spain and Italy's wushu player Michele Giordano for the award. Sreejesh was part of the Tokyo Olympics-bronze medal-winning side, received 1,27,647 votes, whereas Lopez and Giordane accumulated 67,428 and 52,046 votes respectively.
The 33-year-old was the only Indian nominated and was recommended by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). In the FIH Stars Awards in October, Sreejesh was named the goalkeeper of the year for 2021.
He dedicated the honour to his teammates and the behind-the-scenes support system that propelled the side to the podium in Tokyo Olympics.
"I am a person who doesn't believe in individual awards, especially when you are part of a team," the 33-year-old said.
"It's not only the team of 33 players, but you have a lot of people involved behind as well, there's coaching staff, there's support staff, there's a great association like Hockey India who is supporting you a lot.”
"There's Sports Authority of India (SAI), who are providing you with all the world-class facilities to train, there's Odisha Government who’s unwavering support helps the sport grow and flourish and there's India Olympic Association as well, who re taking care of you really well," Sreejesh further added.
Sreejesh made his senior team debut in 2006, at the South Asian Games in Colombo. He has been a regular member in the team since 2011 after saving two penalty strokes in the Asian Champions Trophy Final in Ordos City, China, against Pakistan.
He had represented India at the 2012 London Olympics and then the World Cup in 2014. At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, he starred in India's gold medal win, when he saved two penalty strokes against Pakistan in the final.
He also led the Indian team that won the silver medal at the 2016 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy held in London. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Sreejesh led the Indian hockey team to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Sreejesh has represented India in 244 senior international matches.
