The clock showed just over five seconds left when Germany’s Lukas Windfeder drag-flicked a penalty corner towards the Indian goal. It was the bronze medal match at Tokyo 2020 and India was leading 5-4 towards the end of a thrilling encounter. The German had already scored seven goals in Tokyo, including one earlier in the match. But, at the crucial moment, he could not get past goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh, ‘The Wall of Indian Hockey’. India had its first Olympic hockey medal since 1980.
Sreejesh, 36, will be back in India’s goal at Paris 2024, for one last time. A veteran of 328 caps across 18 years, he will be the first Indian goalkeeper to participate in four Olympics. It is evident that he wants more than a bronze to show for it. While announcing that he would retire after Paris, he said that he wanted to help in changing the colour of the medal this time. The expectations are high. But, the task also feels difficult this time. India, ranked 7th, are in the same group as Tokyo gold medallists Belgium (rank 3) and silver medallists Australia (4). The other teams in the group are Argentina (6), New Zealand (10) and Ireland (11).
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India won against Argentina in May, but suffered a whitewash in a five-game series in Australia in April. But, Sreejesh is not worried about the results Down Under. “It was an experimental tournament for us,” he told THE WEEK. “I believe we succeeded in that irrespective of the results. We learnt where we need to improve and are working on that for the Olympics.” He added that the coach wanted to test the youngsters, too.
And, what does the senior statesman of the team think about his younger teammates?
“We have a good strength of players here,” he said. “They are competitive. Each one is pushing really hard to get in the team. That healthy competition is helping us grow as a team.”
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He also believes that he is leaving the goalkeeper role in safe hands. “Krishan Pathak (Sreejesh’s 27-year-old deputy) is one of the most talented goalkeepers in the world,” said Sreejesh. “I have been watching him since 2016, when I joined the junior team to mentor them. I have seen him progressing as a wonderful goalkeeper. He already has good experience and I believe that he can be a vital part for this team for long.”
For now though, the focus will be on the veteran. His younger teammates may prefer it that way as they prepare for a potentially life-changing tournament. And, Sreejesh has repeatedly shown that he is well-adjusted to having all eyes on him. Hockey India president and former national team captain Dilip Tirkey is confident about Sreejesh’s match-winning ability. “He is very experienced and we all saw his performance at the last Olympics,” Tirkey told THE WEEK. “I am sure that he will do well at his fourth Olympics and help the team.”
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Sreejesh, as seasoned goalkeepers tend to do, is just focused on the basics. He said his personal aim for the Olympics was to “reduce mistakes and make more saves so that the team survives till the last match”.