Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh is the current head coach of the India men's national under-21 field hockey team and more importantly he is a former Indian field hockey player who played as a goalkeeper and former captain of the Indian national team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest goal keepers in the history of hockey.[2][3] Sreejesh played a vital role in the Indian national team's bronze medal wins at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics.[4]
He won an award at the FIH Player of the Year Awards (2020–21) for the best male goalkeeper.[5] He was part of the teams which won gold at the 2014 Asian Games and the 2022 Asian Games.[6] He played in the Hockey India League for Uttar Pradesh Wizards.
Sreejesh was born 8 May 1988, in Kizhakkambalam, a suburb of Kochi in the state of Kerala, to P. V. Raveendran and Usha, a family of farmers. He completed his primary education in St. Antony's Lower Primary School in Kizhakkambalam and he studied until the sixth standard in St. Joseph's High School in Kizhakkambalam. His brother Sreejith lives in Canada.[7][8]
As a kid, he trained as a sprinter, before moving on to long jump and volleyball. At 12, he joined the GV Raja Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram. This was where his coach suggested that he take up goalkeeping.[9][10] He became a professional after he was picked by hockey coach Jayakumar at the school, following which he played at the school before playing at the Nehru Cup.[11] He completed his graduation in History from Sree Narayana College, Chempazhanthy, Kerala.[12]
In 2017, the Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri for his work in the field of sports.[13][14]
Sreejesh made the Junior national team in 2004, in a match against Australia in Perth, in 2004. He made his debut in the senior national team in 2006, at the South Asian Games in Colombo.[10] Following India's win at the 2008 Junior Asia Cup, he was awarded the 'Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament'.[15] Having been a part of the Indian team for six years, though often losing his place to senior goalkeepers, Adrian D'Souza and Bharat Chettri,[16] he has been a regular member since 2011, after saving two penalty stroke in the Asian Champions Trophy Final in Ordos City, China, against Pakistan, a match-winning performance.[9] His second 'Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament' award came at the 2013 Asia Cup, with India finishing second in the tournament. He was a part of the team that won silver medals at the
Sreejesh had earlier played for India at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and then World Cup in 2014. At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, he starred in Indian's gold medal win, when he saved two penalty strokes against Pakistan in the final.[17] At the 2014 Champions Trophy and 2018 Champions Trophy, he was adjudged "Goalkeeper of the Tournament".[18] Following impressive performances in 2014, he was nominated for the award of Best Male Goalkeeper; he eventually lost to Jaap Stockmann of the Netherlands.[19] He was the captain of the team that won the silver medal at the 2016 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy held at London.
On 13 Jul 2016, Sreejesh took over as captain of the Indian hockey team from Sardar Singh.
At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Sreejesh led the Indian hockey team to the quarterfinals of the tournament .[20]
At the Tokyo Olympics, on 5 August 2021, Sreejesh played a key role in defeating Germany to clinch the bronze medal for India, their first Olympic medal in hockey for 41 years.[21][22]
Sreejesh was a part of 2022 Commonwealth Games Silver medal won team, 2023 Asian Champion Trophy Winners team and 2022 Asian Games hockey Gold medal won Indian team.
He was also played a key role in India's bronze-medal winning journey at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[23] He retired from his international career post the Olympics games.[24]
At the auction of the inaugural season of the Hockey India League, Sreejesh was bought by the Mumbai franchise for US$38,000. He played two seasons for their team, Mumbai Magicians.[25] In 2014, he was bought by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for US$69,000 and since the 2015 season, has been playing for them.[26] PR Sreejesh became the second Indian to win the "World Athlete of the Year" after Rani Rampal.
Sreejesh married his longtime girlfriend Aneeshya, a former long jumper and an Ayurveda doctor. They have a daughter (b. 2014) Anusree.[27] His son, Sreeansh was born in 2017. He is currently employed as Joint Director(Chief Sports Organiser) with the Government of Kerala's Department of General and Higher Education. Sreejesh is a member of Rotary Club of Kizhakkambalam, District 3201.
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