New Delhi: Indias veteran goalkeeper, PR Sreejesh, has announced his decision to retire from international hockey after the Paris Olympics, which is set to commence on July 26. This will be Sreejeshs fourth Olympic appearance. The Indian legend shared his retirement plans on Instagram.Journey of sacrificesSreejeshs journey began at the G V Raja Sports School. His path was paved with sacrifices. His father sold their cow to buy his first hockey kit. His sacrifice ignited a fire within me, pushing me to strive harder and dream bigger, Sreejesh recalls. His first international trip to Australia was the payback to his determination, as a young boy from Kerala chased his dreams on foreign soil. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sreejesh P R (@sreejesh88)Turning Point: London Olympics 2012The 2012 London Olympics were a crucial turning point in Sreejeshs career. Despite the disappointment of losing all their matches, it was a moment of resolve for him. Losing all our matches was a bitter pill to swallow, he reflects. But it was also a moment to rise and never back down. This resolve fueled Sreejeshs leadership, guiding India to historic victories, including their first Asian Champions Trophy and an Asian Games gold, both won in intense shootouts against Pakistan.Earning global recognitionSreejesh had the honor of captaining the Indian team in the Olympics. Being named the Worlds Best Goalkeeper stands as one of his most treasured accolades. His crowning achievement came with the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo 2020. The tears, the joy, the pride – it was all worth it, he says, reflecting on the emotional journey.This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I am forever grateful for the love and support from my family, teammates, coaches, and fans. Thank you for believing in me. Heres to the end of a chapter and the beginning of a new adventure, he added.Sreejeshs decorated careerSince making his debut at the 2010 World Cup, Sreejesh has been integral to Indias success. He played a key role in securing gold at the 2014 Asian Games and a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang. He was also part of the team that jointly won the Asian Champions Trophy in 2018 and won at the 2019 FIH Mens Series Finals in Bhubaneswar.
