Ever since making his senior-team debut at the 2006 South Asian Games in Sri Lanka, P R Sreejesh has been a towering presence in the Indian national hockey side. A goalkeeper, he is rated high for his instincts, something that makes him highly effective in penalty-shootout situations.
Born into a family of farmers at Kizhakkambalam in Ernakulam district in 1988, Sreejesh was not so eager to play hockey in his early years. Initially drawn towards athletics, Sreejesh joined the famous G V Raja Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram, and kept trying his luck in sprints and long jump, and later in volleyball. Coaches Jayakumar and Ramesh Kolappa convinced him to switch to hockey. "They showed me how to focus on the game," Sreejesh said. And as they say, there was no looking back.
Sreejesh emerged as one of the greatest goalkeepers Indian hockey has ever seen. The six-foot tall player has been instrumental in India winning the 2021 Olympic bronze, Asian Games gold and bronze, Commonwealth Games silver and many Champions Trophy medals. He played his 250th match for India in February, 2022, in Spain during the FIH Hockey Pro League.
The nation acknowledged his exemplary work at the goal by presenting him with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021. He was also conferred with the Arjuna Award in 2015 and Padma Shri in 2017. He was adjudged the World Games Athlete of the Year for his 2021 performances, only the second Indian to achieve the feat.
Sreejesh had made his debut for the junior national team in 2004. The shot stopper was adjudged the best goalkeeper at the 2008 Junior Asia Cup. The prowess he showed to defend penalty stroke against Pakistan in the Asian Champions Trophy final in 2011 in Ordos City, China, catapulted him to national star status. Sreejesh kept working hard on his game and underlined his strong credentials with another fine performance in the 2013 Asia Cup, in which India emerged as the winners. As an icing on the cake, Sreejesh bagged the best goalkeeper of the tournament award. After leading India to a silver medal in the Champions Trophy, Sreejesh became a regular captain of the team.
Sreejesh married his longtime girlfriend, Aneeshya, a former long jumper and Ayurveda doctor. They have a daughter, Anushree, and a son, Sreeansh. The 34-year-old is currently employed as the Chief Sports Organiser with the Kerala Government's General Education Department.
