Historian K Arumugam outlines three unique records of Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh

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In a testimonial speech delivered by K Arumugam, hockey historian, statistician and promoter of the sport via his NGO One Thousand Hockey Legs, in the felicitation function organized by Hockey India, accolades flowed in torrents. He quoted three unique records that the living legend has set.

“I stand here to reveal three unique records that our star goalkeeper Sreejesh has set. First of all, for the first time ever, an Indian national federation organized a farewell ceremony for a retiring player,” Arumugam said. “It’s a huge pioneering effort and a welcome one. But no surprise it has happened. After all, an iconic player heads the national federation and it is thanks to him, Mr Dilip Tirkey and his Hockey India team, that this has happened!

Arumugam revealed that as many as 27 goalkeepers have represented India in 22 editions of the Olympic Games. “Before Paris 2024, just three of those 27 played in three Olympics — Richard Allen, Ranganathan Francis and Shankar Laxman. All in the pre-artificial turf era,” he elaborated.

“Just five goalkeepers featured in two Olympics before Paris 2024. Of those, just three did duty in the artificial turf era. They are Bir Bahadur Chetri, AB Subbaiah and Devesh Chauhan. “But Sreejesh surpassed all before him when he stepped onto the Yves-du-Manoir pitch at the Paris Olympics”.

The Wall as he is known has stood firm in four Olympic campaigns, an enviable record that will be difficult to surpass.

Sreejesh has played in all 22 matches at Rio, Tokyo and Paris in addition to four matches out of six before that at the 2012 London Olympics where he made his Games debut.

Arumugam invited the audience to take a closer look at ‘Sree’s’ triple records. He listed three ground-breaking achievements by the player hailing from Kerala, not exactly known for a hockey culture.

He spelled them out as:

1. PR Sreejesh is the only Indian goalkeeper to figure in four Olympic Games

2. His 26 Olympic caps are the most played by an Indian goalkeeper surpassing 20 by triple-Olympian Shankar Laxman (1956-1964).

3. The only Indian goalkeeper to win the Asian Games gold medal twice.

What cold figures don’t tell you, however, is the energy, effort and sacrifice entailed in training and competing.

In the hot sub-40C temperature of Paris, Arumugam asked Sreejesh in a lighter vein: “Before I finish, I have a question for you, Sree: Please tell us how many kilograms on average you lost after each match in Paris!”

He wagered that this could be the fourth record Sreejesh set at the Paris Olympics!

In a concluding remark, K. Arumugam thanks Dr Dilip Tirkey, President Hockey India, Secretary-General Bhola Nath Singh and Treasurer Sekhar Manoharan for providing this opportunity and organizing this unique felicitation function.

The Indian squad along with support staff donned special Sreejesh jerseys on the occasion making for a heart-warming moment watched by his family. Teammates, coaches, players past and present shared memories from many a campaign – from the dressing room to the pitch – all while a giant screen flashed pictures from a long and illustrious career. ‘God of Modern Indian Hockey’ read a sign at the side, reflective of the stature of the goalkeeper of 336 internationals. 

Former captain Sardar Singh, PR Sreejesh’s first coach Harendra Singh, Captain Harmanpreet Singh and former captain Manpreet Singh also spoke in the function.

Note: Only other player to win two Asian Games gold is Manpreet Singh.

Photo courtesy: Hockey India.

https://stick2hockey.com is India’s oldest hockey website. Launched in 1999, the website, edited and owned by hockey historian and author K. ARUMUGAM, has covered all major tournaments and events with precision. https://stick2hockey.com is the first site in the hockey world to bring viewers live text commentary and duly entered the prestigious Limca Book of Records. If vintage stories are what you are looking for, this site is the right one for you. You will also find pictures, some of them among the rarest, images of precious newspaper clippings, match reports, news breaks, interviews, features, statistics and history on a site respected by one and all in the hockey world.