Padmabhusan returns to Indian hockey after 69 years as PR Sreejesh get the honour after Dhyan Chand

K. ARUMUGAM

Another honour for Indian hockey. Its huge. Our own PR Sreejesh, whom Hockey India branded as ‘God of Modern Hockey’ gets the nation’s second top most civilian award Padma Bhuan. He is only the second hockey player to get the honour after legend Dhyan Chand. The colonial India’s hockey maestro got Padmabhusan in 1956. The honour comes to  hockey after a lull of seven decades.

Its gratifying to note the living legend got the honour matching Dhyan Chand.

His three unique records are given in the link: Historian K Arumugam outlines three unique records of Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh | Stick2Hockey

Awards are not new to the iconic goalie, but this one is special as it is comparable to none other than hockey’s all time great Dhyan Chand. Sreejesh has already got Padmashree, third highest civilian award, and Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, nation’s top most sports award, besides FIH Player of the Year awards. Of course Arjuna award is already on his chest.

Only second goalie to lead India at Olympics, Sree has been backbone of Indian hockey since last two decades.
The lanky goalie won the HI’s Player of the Year Award in 2015, and the newly instituted Dhruva Batra award during the Hockey India League 2015.

With an Asian Games gold (2014),  and Silver at both CWG (2014) & Champions Trophy (2016), Sree leads emerging India at Rio, chosen ahead of Sardar Singh for the leadership.

PR Played heroic role in India winning Bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, a medal for Indian hockey after 1972. His stellar role in goalkeeping came in handy again in the Paris Olympics.

PR Sreejesh, like goalie Ashish Ballal in the 1988 Asian Games, helped India lift the first Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos with two crucial saves in the tie-break. His tie-break saves gave India the bronze at the Raipur HWL Finals in late 2015

The youngster from Kerala played a key role in India winning the 2010 World Cup opener against arch-rival Pakistan. With this the colt has announced his arrival on the big time hockey. He was taken in for the Ordos Asian Champions Trophy after Adrian D’Souza fell through with his strong views on contemporary hockey.

He played the 2005 Junior World Cup, where India narrowly missed the bronze. He made his Sr debut against France in 2004. He won the silver at the 2008 Azlan Shah Cup, gold two years later.

He led India at the Jakarta Asian Games.