Hockey India made the announcement on Wednesday that they will be retiring the jersey number of the legendary goalkeeper PR. Sreejesh. This decision comes after Sreejesh's retirement following his significant contribution to securing India's second consecutive Olympic bronze at the recently concluded Paris Games.
The No. 16 jersey, which Sreejesh proudly wore for nearly two decades, will now be retired for the senior national team. In recognition of his outstanding career, Sreejesh was also presented with a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 25 lakhs as a token of appreciation.
“Sreejesh is now going to be the junior team coach and we are retiring the No. 16 jersey for the senior team. We are not retiring No. 16 for the junior team,” Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh said.
“Sreejesh dusra Sreejesh ko paida karega in junior team (Sreejesh will groom someone like him in the junior team who will wear the No.16 jersey),” he added.
The players in attendance at the ceremony donned matching red jerseys emblazoned with Sreejesh's name on the back, paying tribute to the esteemed veteran from Kerala.
Sreejesh recently concluded his illustrious 18-year hockey career on a high note, contributing to India's bronze medal victory over Spain with a score of 2-1. This marked India's second consecutive bronze at the Olympics, following their success in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
In addition to his Olympic achievements, Sreejesh has also achieved remarkable success in other international competitions. He secured a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games in China, a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England, and a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy.
Furthermore, Sreejesh's impressive resume includes a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games, a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang, and victories at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy and the 2019 FIH Men's Series Finals in Bhubaneswar.
Sreejesh's legacy as a talented and accomplished athlete is truly remarkable, and his contributions to Indian hockey will be remembered for years to come.
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