Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh | ||
Born | Pallikkara, Kochi | 8 May 1988||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Weight | 90 kg (198 lb) | ||
Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Physical Education & Sports, Kerala | ||
Senior career | |||
Years | Team | ||
2005–2011 | Chandigarh Comets | ||
2011–2013 | Indian Overseas Bank | ||
2013–2014 | Mumbai Magicians | ||
2015–2017 | Uttar Pradesh Wizards | ||
2017– | Physical Education & Sports, Kerala | ||
National team | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2004–2006 | India U21 | ||
2006– | India | 308 | (0) |
Medal record |
Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh is an Indian field hockey player from Kerala who plays as a goalkeeper and former captain of the Indian national team.He is regarded as the World's best goal keeper of his generation. [1] He plays in the Hockey India League for Uttar Pradesh Wizards. Sreejesh played a vital role in the Indian national team's bronze medal win at the 2020 Summer Olympics men's field hockey tournament. [2] He won FIH Player of the Year Awards (2020–21) for best male goalkeeper. [3] Since winning gold in 2014 Asian Games he won gold medal again in 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. [4] He won a total of 16 international medals in his career until 2023 from Olympics, FIH Hockey World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian tournaments combined.
Sreejesh was born 8 May 1988, in Kizhakkambalam village, in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, to P. V. Raveendran and Usha, a family of farmers. He completed his primary education in St. Antony's Lower Primary School in Kizhakkambalam and he studied until the sixth standard in St. Joseph's High School in Kizhakkambalam. [5]
As a kid, he trained as a sprinter, before moving on to long jump and volleyball. At 12, he joined the GV Raja Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram. This was where his coach suggested that he take up goalkeeping. [6] [7] He became a professional after he was picked by hockey coach Jayakumar at the school, following which he played at the school before playing at the Nehru Cup. [8] He completed his graduation in History from Sree Narayana College, Kollam, Kerala. [9]
In 2017, the Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri for his work in the field of sports. [10] [11]
Sreejesh made the Junior national team in 2004, in a match against Australia in Perth, in 2004. He made his debut in the senior national team in 2006, at the South Asian Games in Colombo. [7] Following India's win at the 2008 Junior Asia Cup, he was awarded the 'Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament'. [12] Having been a part of the Indian team for six years, though often losing his place to senior goalkeepers, Adrian D'Souza and Bharat Chettri, [13] he has been a regular member since 2011, after saving two penalty stroke in the Asian Champions Trophy Final in Ordos City, China, against Pakistan, a match-winning performance. [6] His second 'Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament' award came at the 2013 Asia Cup, with India finishing second in the tournament. He was a part of the team that won silver medals at the
Sreejesh had earlier played for India at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and then World Cup in 2014. At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, he starred in Indian's gold medal win, when he saved two penalty strokes against Pakistan in the final. [14] At the 2014 Champions Trophy and 2018 Champions Trophy, he was adjudged "Goalkeeper of the Tournament". [15] Following impressive performances in 2014, he was nominated for the award of Best Male Goalkeeper; he eventually lost to Jaap Stockmann of the Netherlands. [16] He was the captain of the team that won the silver medal at the 2016 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy held at London.
On 13 Jul 2016, Sreejesh was given the responsibilities of the Captain of the Indian hockey team, taking over from Sardar Singh.
At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Sreejesh led the Indian hockey team to the quarterfinals of the tournament . [17]
At the Tokyo Olympics, on 5 August 2021, Sreejesh played a key role in defeating Germany to clinch the bronze medal for India after 41 years. [18] [19]
Sreejesh is in race for World games Athlete [20] of the year and according to the reports, the online voting will start from 10 January 2022 and ends at 31 January 2022. [21]
Sreejesh was a part of 2022 Commonwealth Games Silver medal won team, 2023 Asian Champion Trophy Winners team and 2022 Asian Games hockey Gold medal won Indian team.
At the auction of the inaugural season of the Hockey India League, Sreejesh was bought by the Mumbai franchise for US$38,000. He played two seasons for their team, Mumbai Magicians. [22] In 2014, he was bought by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for US$69,000 and since the 2015 season, has been playing for them. [23] PR Sreejesh became the second Indian to win the "World Athlete of the Year" after Rani Rampal.
Sreejesh married his longtime girlfriend Aneeshya, a former long jumper and an Ayurveda doctor. They have a daughter (b. 2014) Anusree. [24] His son, Sreeansh was born in 2017. He is currently employed as Joint Director(Chief Sports Organiser) with the Government of Kerala's Department of General and Higher Education. Sreejesh is a member of Rotary Club of Kizhakkambalam, District 3201.
Helen Mary Innocent is an Indian former field hockey player who played for India as goalkeeper. She made her international debut for India in 1992 in the test series against Germany. In 2003, she saved two penalty strokes in final tie-breaker to win title for India at the Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad. She also earned the Arjuna Award.
India men's national field hockey team represents India in international field hockey competitions, and is governed by Hockey India. The team was formerly under the control of Indian Hockey Federation. India was the first non-European team to be a part of the International Hockey Federation.
The Pakistan national field hockey team represents Pakistan in international field hockey. Having played its first match in 1948, it is administered by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), the governing body for hockey in Pakistan. It has been a member of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) since 1948 and was founding member of the Asian Hockey Federation (ASHF), which was formed in 1958. Pakistan is one of the most successful national field hockey teams in the world with a record four Hockey World Cup wins.
Kizhakkambalam is an eastern suburb of the city of Kochi in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. It is regarded as a model panchayat for its various development activities and is a part of the Kunnathunad tehsil of the Ernakulam district.
The Indian women's national field hockey team represents India in international field hockey, and is governed by Hockey India. Nabhvarna are currently ranked 6th in the FIH World Rankings, and are ranked as the best team in Asia. They have won the gold medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and 1982 Asian Games. They have also won the Women's Asia Cup twice, i.e. in 2004 and 2017. They also won the Asian Champions Trophy 2016 and 2023.
Hockey India plans, directs and conducts all the activities for both men's and women's field hockey in India. It is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India as the sole body responsible towards promoting the sport. It was formed after Indian Hockey Federation was dismissed in 2008.
Sardara Singh, sometimes referred as Sardar Singh, is an Indian field hockey coach and former field hockey player. He also served as the captain of the Indian national team. He usually plays the center half position. Sardara became the youngest player to captain the Indian team when he led the side at the 2008 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. He was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, in 2015. On 13 July 2016, the responsibilities of the captain were handed over from him to P. R. Sreejesh, the goalkeeper of Indian Team. On 12 September 2018, Sardara announced his retirement from international hockey. He played 314 matches during 12 years in his career.
Rani Rampal is an Indian field hockey player and coach. At the age of 15, she was the youngest player in the national team which participated in the 2010 World Cup. She has completed her schooling but was not able to get the graduate degree due to practice sessions and matches which were lined up. She plays forward on her team. She has played 212 international matches and scored 134 goals. She is currently the Captain for Indian Women's Hockey Team. She is also well known as a striker who often doubles up as mid-fielder. She has a great fascination with CWG. In 2020, the Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri.
Manuel Frederick is an Indian field hockey player who played as goalkeeper from Kannur district in Kerala. He won a bronze medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. He is the 1st Keralite to win an Olympic medal. The second Keralite to win an Olympic medal is P. R. Sreejesh who won a Bronze on 5th Aug 2021 in Tokyo Olympics. Both medals for Kerala have come via the goalkeepers of the National Hockey Team.
India competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. Indian athletes have appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympics since 1920, although they made their official debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Deep Grace Ekka is an Indian former field hockey player, who represented the India national field hockey team. She has been selected for Arjun award in 2022.
Manpreet Singh Pawar is an Indian field hockey player. He led the Indian field hockey team to the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He plays as a halfback.
Harmanpreet Singh is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a defender for the Indian national team and also captains the national team. He was part of the hockey team that won the bronze medal for India in Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games. He's currently ranked number 1 among Indian players in most goals in modern turf hockey.
Deepika Thakur is an Indian field hockey player and is currently the most senior and highest capped player of Indian women's Team. She plays as a Defender in the senior team and has represented India over 200 outings and has scored 24 goals.
India competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Australia from 4 to 15 April 2018. It was India's 17th appearance at the Commonwealth Games. With 26 Gold medals and a total of 66 medals, India finished 3rd for the tournament. It was India's best position since the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which they hosted.
India competed at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia, from 18 August to 2 September. Neeraj Chopra was the flag bearer for the opening ceremony while Rani Rampal was named as the flag bearer for the closing ceremony.
Lalremsiami Hmarzote is an Indian professional field hockey player who plays as a forward and occasionally as a halfback for the Indian national team. At the club level, she plays for Sports Authority of India. Hmarzote was a part of the 18-member squad that represented India at the 2018 World Cup. At the Asian Games that followed, she became the first sportsperson from Mizoram to win an Asian medal after she won silver.
India competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. India has appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympics since 1920, although it made its official debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. The nation sent its largest-ever contingent of 126 competitors to the 2020 Games. To date, the 2020 Summer Olympics are the most successful Games for India since its first regular Olympics appearance in 1920, with Indian Olympians winning 7 medals. The Indian contingent participated in a record 69 events, and earned medals across 18 athletic disciplines.
Krishan Bahadur Pathak is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a goalkeeper for the Indian national team.