PR Sreejesh, India’s experienced goalkeeper, is to retire from international hockey following the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26. Sreejesh will compete in his fourth Olympic Games, hoping to add to his bronze medal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The Indian legend, who made his debut for India in 2006, announced his retirement via social media.
Sreejesh has played 328 international for India
Sreejesh, a veteran of 328 international caps, three Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Cups, will compete in his fourth Olympics.
Sreejesh made his debut at the 2010 World Cup and has been a part of several memorable victories for India, including gold at the 2014 Asian Games, bronze at Jakarta-Palembang, joint winning team of the Asian Champions Trophy in 2018, gold medal winning team of the 2019 FIH Men’s Series Finals in Bhubaneswar, and silver medal winning team at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
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Sreejesh played a key role in India’s bronze medal win at Tokyo 2020
The 36-year-old goalkeeper was a key architect of India’s historic bronze medal victory at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He was vital in India’s third-place performance in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2021/22.
Sreejesh was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2021 and is only the second Indian athlete to win the World Games Athlete of the Year title in 2021. He has also won the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award twice, in 2021 and 2022.
He made a lasting impression during India’s gold medal-winning run at the Asian Games last year, which guaranteed the team’s spot in Paris 2024.
