P R Sreejesh
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A brief biography
The 2021 Olympics
Mufeed Mahdi Rizvi, August 5, 2021: The Times of India
It is yet to sink in – first hockey medal in Olympics in 40 years – to even start a discussion on which player deserved how much credit. But Sreejesh did put his performance beyond the scope of any objective discussion with a save in the last six seconds of the game. That’s nerves of steel.
That save was not Sreejesh’s first match-winning effort. He was, in fact, peerless for the entire duration of India’s campaign in Tokyo, barring, perhaps, the first game. And that says a lot, because India lost the opener 7-1 to Australia. Here are all of Sreejesh’s heroic saves:
AGAINST SPAIN | LEAGUE GAME
When: Two minutes into the 2nd quarter
Score then: India leading 2-0
Amit Rohidas fumbles in the Indian half near the 25 yard line, giving away possession. Spain’s David Alegre picks up the ball and enters the striking area. Rupinder Pal fails to intercept the ball and it rolls towards the goal. Sreejesh dives to his right and clears it stretched-full-length with his stick, just inches from the goal.
Importance: India were leading 2-0 at that point and a goal would have given the Spaniards a foot-hold and they would have piled pressure on the Indians for an equaliser. Remember, it was India’s only third match in the league.
When: In the dying seconds of 3rd quarter
Spain’s David Alegre charges in from the left and attempts a tomahawk shot on target. Sreejesh rushes forward, squats down with his armoury to block it with his pads. Although Spain manages to collect the rebound and put it in into the goal, the hooter has gone off. It was that close.
Importance: India were still leading 2-0. Sreejesh’s brave save showed how quickly things can change in hockey.
AGAINST ARGENTINA | LEAGUE GAME
When: 12 minutes into the 2nd quarter Score then: 0-0 Argentine Nehuel Salis receives the ball on top of the semi-circle on the right. He enters the circle, takes a turn and unleashes a hit. Sreejesh has a split second to react, but he manages to glove-off the tracer bullet.
Importance: With the score at 0-0, the goal would have provided Argentina the momentum. India needed to win this match to ensure a quarter-final birth.
When: 12 minutes into the 3rd quarter
Sreejesh finds himself one-on-one with rushing Matias Rey. While world’s best goalkeepers can freeze in such moments, Sreejesh rushes out to meet a Matias. Seeing the goalkeeper’s brave move, Matias loses nerve, fumbles and loses possession to the Indian defence.
Importance: The score still at 0-0. Argentina could have closed the game if they had gained lead at this stage.
AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN | QUARTER-FINAL
When: 13 minutes into the 1st quarter Score then: India leading 1-0
Britain forward Samuel Ward gets a deflection on the right and the ball is goal bound. No goal-keeper is ever ready for a deflection, but Sreejesh manages to takes it on his pads. The ball rises and Paul Ansell tries to tap the rising ball past the Indian custodian. Sreejesh pads it off again from a close range.
Importance: India were 1-0 and a goal at this stage would have meant that India would have to start from the scratch, losing all psychological advantage.
When: 6th minute into the 4th quarter
Penalty corner for Britain. Ansell attempts a low drag flick to Sreejesh’s left. The Indian goalie stretches his legs to pad it away.
Importance: India were leading 2-1 at this stage, an equaliser would have given Britain nine minutes to go for the kill. British players are a different animal once they smell blood.
AGAINST GERMANY | BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
When: Nine minutes into the 1st Quarter Score then: 1-0 German Mats Grambusch picks up an aerial ball just outside the circle with no Indian defenders around. He then dodges Hardik Singh and takes a reverse hit at the target. Sreejesh’s reaction lightening quick; he goes on the ground and the ball brushes his helmet and goes out.
Importance: Germany were leading 1-0 at this early stage, 2-0 would have allowed them to get more aggressive.
When: 11 minutes into the 4th quarter
India penalised as Sreejesh rushes out to ward off an aerial ball. Penalty corner awarded to Germany. This is a make-or-break situation. Score is 5-4 in India’s favour. If India concede, the advantage will be extinguished. German Lukas Windfeder takes the drag flick along the carpet looking to get past through Sreejesh’s legs. The goalie is alert. He stays his ground to take it on his pads.
Importance: With just four minutes to play, all India now have to do is run the clock down.
When: 6.8 seconds away from bronze medal
Disaster strikes. Ball hits Rupinder Pal Singh foot’s in the penalty area and the defence fumbles a clearance. Penalty corner awarded to Germany. Entire German bench is celebrating. Windfeder this time tries a rising drag flick to beat Sreejesh. The Indian goalie reads it well to put it off. The hooter goes off.
Importance: If Germany had scored the equaliser, it would have led to a shootout. And then, it could have been anybody's game.
