India's legendary hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh who is also known as the ‘Wall of India in hockey’ played his last Olympic match against Spain 2-1. Sreejesh has clinched two medals in the history of the Olympics he was part of the Indian hockey team that was featured in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. India clinched a second successive bronze medal at the Olympic Games for the first time in 52 years.
The 36-year-old from Kerala, whose illustrious career spanned 18 years, had announced before the Olympics that he would call it quits at the end of India's campaign. Sreejesh was seen full of emotions as India won their bronze medal match against Spain. During the exclusive conversation with sports take, the legendary goalkeeper said that anyone can be a Olympian bit their are few who are Olympic medallist.
“I am going now with the thought that I have to become not an Olympian but an Olympic medalist. This thinking has changed and the confidence of the entire team has increased a lot. Anyone can become an Olympian but to become an Olympic medalist, one has to do a lot of hard work. We have got the medal only because of the hard work of our team” said Sreejesh.
The last minute was crucial for India as Spain got the penalty corner and the Spain stars started attacking for a equaliser. Sreejesh said that he kept his emotions under control during that by saying ‘I just have to save the goal and do what I have always done to himself’.
“In the last 90 seconds, I kept my emotions under control and with all my strength I thought that I just have to save the goal and do what I have always done” added Sreejesh.
The 'Great Wall of Indian Hockey' played more than 300 matches for India. In Paris, he was in excellent form and made several crucial saves for the country during regulation time as well as during penalty shoot-outs.
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