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India men's hockey team gave a fitting farewell to legendary goalkeeper PR Sreejesh by clinching the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Thursday, August 8.
India clinched its second successive Olympic bronze medal with 2-1 win over Spain in the third-place playoff. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh emerged as hero as he scored two crucial goals for the Men in Blue not just to secure a win but also to end India men's hockey campaign on high following the semifinal defeat against Germany.
Ahead of the bronze medal against Spain, all the focus was on PR Sreejesh who capped off his illustrious career with his second successive Olympic bronze medal, having first won at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. After the bronze medal win, PR Sreejesh did 'pranam' in front of the goalpost as he capped off his career with a second successive Olympic medal.
Then, Sreejesh sat on top of the goalpost, just like he did after winning the bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and the men's hockey players bowed down to him in admiration and expressed their gratitude to the legendary goalkeeper who has been a pillar of the success of Indian hockey over the years. The video of the same went viral on social media.
PR Sreejesh already announced that the Paris Olympics 2024 would be his last appearance on the international stage. The 36-year-old would have hoped to cap off his international career with an Olympic medal but was dashed after India lost to Germany in the semifinal.
However, Sreejesh got another to win an Olympic medal and he signed off his international career with the second Olympic bronze medal of his career. With two Olympic medals in his career, PR Sreejesh became one of the most decorated Olympians in the history of Indian hockey.
Apart from clinching the bronze medal, PR Sreejesh is currently the most successful goalkeeper at the Paris Olympics, having saved 50 goals from 62 attempts in the tournament.
'This is the better way to finish': PR Sreejesh
PR Sreejesh couldn't have asked for a better to finish his career than winning a Olympic medal. The veteran goalkeeper added that he understands the sentiment of the people regarding his retirement but is not going to change his mind.
"I think this is the better way to finish an Olympic Games, with a medal. We are not going home empty-handed, that's a great thing," Sreejesh told Jio Cinema after India's Bronze medal win.
"I respect the sentiments of people (who may have wanted him to continue). But some decisions are hard, but taking a decision at right time makes the situation more beautiful." he added.
Having made his international debut for India at the South Asian Games in 2006, Sreejesh went on to cement his place as the first choice goalkeeper as well as one of the well-established players in the history of Indian hockey.
