KUALA LUMPUR – “Legends are not born, they are created.”
This line perfectly captures the essence of Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran, who fought tooth and nail to rise through the ranks and earn his place as one of the greatest hockey goalkeepers the world has ever seen.
Hailing from the humble suburb of Kizhakkambalam in Kerala, it was reported that Sreejesh faced relentless opposition when he chose sports over academics at the tender age of 12. In a society where academic excellence was the norm, his decision was seen as a rebellion.
Even today, sports in India often mean cricket, with 88% of parents allowing their children to venture in this single sport, according to a recent Statista survey.
It was reported that the cricket audience (eyeballs) in India is approximately 612 million and makes up 90% of the country’s sports audience.
But Sreejesh did not let societal pressures crush his competitive spirit. Instead, they fueled his determination. Starting as a sprinter, he eventually found his true calling as a hockey goalkeeper at GV Raja Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram, thanks to a coach who recognised his potential. The rest, as they say, is history.
After years of perseverance, Sreejesh finally broke into the senior national team in 2011, but not without challenges. He had to battle seasoned goalkeepers like Adrian D’Souza and Bharat Chettri before securing his place as the first-choice keeper for the 2012 London Olympics.
With India winning a bronze medal in hockey at the recent Paris Olympics all players burst into wild celebrations, Sreejesh quietly walked to one end of the field and bowed down in front of the goalpost – his home for almost two decades.
Known as the “Wall of India,” Sreejesh was instrumental in India’s success in Paris, boasting an astounding 92% save rate across eight matches.
Speaking to Scoop from New Delhi, India’s national head coach Craig Fulton expressed the irreplaceable void Sreejesh’s retirement will leave.
The 36-year-old veteran goalkeeper who has made a total of 336 appearances for his country, recently announced that he will be retiring after the Paris Olympics.
“Since I took over as head coach last year, he has been my wall, always stepping up when the team needed him most. His absence will be felt deeply, as it was his brilliance that saw us through tough matches against the likes of Spain, Belgium, and Argentina.
“He’s a player you can count on in any situation. In my years of coaching, I’ve never encountered anyone like him. His leadership and wisdom have strengthened our team both on and off the field. It will take time to find someone who can fill his shoes. But as a coach, I’m committed to nurturing future legends for this great nation.
“I’ll continue to seek his advice for the national team, and who knows, one day he might join us in the coaching setup. But for now, let the legend rest,” said Fulton.
Closer to home, national hockey head coach Sarjit Singh praised Sreejesh as the most humble and dedicated player he has ever encountered.
“I love the guy (Sreejesh). His attitude on and off the turf is exemplary, and his humility is unparalleled in my coaching career.
“Our team had the chance to face India before the Olympics, and scoring against him was nearly impossible – he was a wall in front of that goal post, saving shots from every angle.
“After the match, he graciously shared his knowledge with our young goalkeepers, offering advice on how to elevate their game. His contribution to hockey is immeasurable, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” Sarjit told Scoop.
Sreejesh was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (India’s highest sporting honour) in 2021 and is only the second sportsperson from India to win the World Games Athlete of the Year for his role in the team’s bronze medal run in Tokyo.
The Kerala-born athlete also won back-to-back International Hockey Federation Goalkeeper of the Year awards in 2021 and 2022.
India is the most successful team in the sport at the Olympics, having won a total of 13 medals (8 golds, 1 silver, and 4 bronze) since their first appearance in 1928.
The Men in Blue are currently ranked number five in the world with 2,848.67 points. – August 14, 2024
