Hockey India Retires PR Sreejesh’s Jersey Number 16 After Historic Bronze Medal Win
New Delhi, August 14 – Hockey India has decided to retire the legendary goalkeeper PR Sreejesh’s jersey number 16 from the men’s senior team. Sreejesh, who recently retired from international hockey, played a crucial role in India’s bronze medal victory against Spain at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium.
Honoring a Legend
Hockey India hosted an event to honor Sreejesh, recognizing him as the ‘God of Modern Indian Hockey’. He was presented with a bouquet, a memento, and prize money of Rs 25 lakh. Sreejesh’s career spanned over 18 years, during which he received numerous accolades, including the Arjuna Award, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, World Games Athlete of the Year, and FIH Best Goalkeeper of the Year twice.
Historic Achievements
Sreejesh was instrumental in India’s success at the Paris Olympics, where the team secured a bronze medal, marking their second consecutive podium finish in 52 years. This victory extended India’s record medal tally to 13 at the Summer Olympic Games.
Future Plans
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey confirmed that Sreejesh will now take on a coaching role. Tirkey stated, “Sreejesh’s favorite jersey number is 16. So Hockey India decided to dedicate the jersey number to Sreejesh and retire it as well.”
Sreejesh’s Gratitude
Sreejesh expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am incredibly privileged and grateful for the warm reception I’ve received from everyone. Reaching this level and experiencing this moment would not have been possible without the support of my family, the guidance of my coaches, and the camaraderie of my teammates.”
Legacy and Inspiration
Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh praised Sreejesh’s impact on Indian hockey, stating, “His exceptional goalkeeping skills have inspired countless young people to watch and take up hockey. Sreejesh has played a pivotal role in bringing Indian hockey back to its rightful place among the top teams in the world.”
Last week, the Indian men’s hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, secured a historic bronze medal by defeating Spain 2-1 at the Paris Olympics.
Doubts Revealed
Hockey India -: Hockey India is the organization that manages and promotes the sport of field hockey in India. They organize tournaments and support the national teams.
Retires Jersey Number -: When a sports organization retires a jersey number, it means no other player on that team will wear that number again, to honor a special player.
PR Sreejesh -: PR Sreejesh is a famous Indian field hockey goalkeeper who has played for the national team for many years and helped win important matches.
Bronze Medal -: A bronze medal is an award given to the third-place winner in a competition, like the Olympics.
Paris Olympics -: The Paris Olympics is a major international sports event that will be held in Paris, France, where athletes from around the world compete in various sports.
God of Modern Indian Hockey -: This is a special title given to PR Sreejesh to show great respect and admiration for his contributions to Indian hockey.
Memento -: A memento is a special item given to someone to remember an important event or person.
Rs 25 lakh -: Rs 25 lakh is a large amount of money in Indian currency, equal to 2.5 million rupees.
Coaching Role -: A coaching role means that PR Sreejesh will now help train and guide other players instead of playing himself.
Accolades -: Accolades are awards or honors given to someone for their achievements and hard work.