The goalkeeper of the Indian males’s hockey group, Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh has shocked the sector along with his efficiency on the Paris Olympics. From Kerala to Paris, here is his tale.
With the Indian Males’s Hockey Group making headlines on the 2024 Paris Olympics, one title sticks out a number of the heroes: Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh. Recognized for his remarkable abilities on the goalposts, Sreejesh has been instrumental in India’s victories over New Zealand, Argentina, Eire, and Nice Britain.
As India prepares to stand Germany within the semi-finals this night at 10:30 pm IST, the highlight is firmly on Sreejesh.
The quarterfinal in opposition to Nice Britain marked the twenty third time Sreejesh stood in purpose for India all through a shoot-out, securing victory on 13 events. His efficiency used to be so unusual {that a} British trainer looking at from the stands exclaimed, “Superman!” in awe of his talents.
Sreejesh comes from a humble background in Kizhakkambalam, a suburb of Kochi, Kerala. Born right into a farmer’s circle of relatives, he used to be fueled via his father’s sacrifice. Recognising his ability, his father had bought their cow to buy a hockey package for younger Sreejesh.
However the battle had simply begun for him. Sreejesh used to be continuously mocked for his seems to be, conventional apparel (veshti) and Malayalam accessory. Being instructed {that a} Kerala participant would by no means make it giant in Indian hockey, there have been instances when he sought after to surrender. However his father’s sacrifices saved him going.
Sreejesh practised day and night time, making it to the Indian junior hockey group. He gained 3 Asian Video games medals, together with gold in Hangzhou 2022, which secured India’s spot within the Paris Olympics. Named FIH’s (Global Hockey Federation) highest goalkeeper in 2021 and 2022, he silenced his critics along with his stellar efficiency.
A Hindustan Occasions article discussed that Sreejesh believes a goalkeeper must be a ‘loopy particular person’ and will have to know the artwork of intimidating. “Loopy, since you simply wish to have the center to face in entrance of that ball. The second one factor is aggression; you want to be an competitive particular person, and the ones reflexes should be there. You don’t get a lot time to only assume, ‘Save’. No, you simply wish to reserve it. You then realise, ‘Ok, I made that save’,” he had mentioned.
Having acted because the wall of the Indian hockey group for over a decade, the lonely tusker is now representing India one ultimate time on the Paris Olympics. The rustic hopes for a medal as without equal farewell for its biggest goalkeeper.
Watch this video to be told extra about PR Sreejesh’s adventure:
Resources:
Paris 2024 Olympics: How ‘Superman’ PR Sreejesh proved to be Indian hockey’s saviour once more in exciting win over GB: Through Mihir Vasavda for The Indian Specific, printed on 5 August 2024.
‘Turned into goalkeeper as a result of I didn’t like operating in any respect’: PR Sreejesh stocks his adventure: Revealed in Hindustan Occasions on 28 Might 2024.
Edited via Khushi Arora