Watch: PR Sreejesh felicitated for completing 300 international matches | Hockey News
Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh completed 300 caps for the national side on Friday. To mark this occasion, he was felicitated FIH president Dato Tayyab Ikram, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey and Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh before the start of the India vs Japan semifinal match of the Asian Champions Trophy.
As his name was announced, the crowd at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium gave the Olympic bronze medall a huge cheer as he offered up a salute to them.
The 34-year-old had made his India debut at the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi and has also represented the country at the 2014, 2018 Hockey Men’s World Cup and 2023 Hockey Men’s World Cup, Commonwealth Games in 2014, 2018 and 2022; and three Olympic Games – London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, where he helped the team clinch the horic Bronze medal.
What a milestone. What a moment. PR Sreejesh’s 300th international game in front of his adopted home, Chennai. 🫡 🇮🇳 #INDvJPN #HACT23 #HaqSeHockey #IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/UbsCZcR7Ix
— FanCode (@FanCode) August 11, 2023
He was also part of India’s Bronze Medal feat at the 18th Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang, joint winners of Hero Asian Champions Trophy in 2018, Gold Medal winning team of 2019 FIH Men’s Series Finals in Bhubaneswar and Silver Medal winning team at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. He was instrumental in India’s third-place finish at the FIH Hockey Pro League 2021/22.
Sreejesh was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021 and is only the second sportsperson from India to win the World Games Athlete of the Year 2021. He has also won back-to-back FIH Goalkeeper of the Year awards in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
“I am privileged to have represented India for more than two decades and earning my 300th International Cap is truly a special memory for me. I will always give my best each time I will get the opportunity to wear the Indian jersey. I would like to thank Hockey India, my teammates and the support staff for their constant support over the years,” Sreejesh was quoted a Hockey India press release.
