I am Dhanraj Pillay for this generation, says PR Sreejesh after famous win over Australia | Paris Olympics 2024 News
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NEW DELHI: Veteran India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, playing his last international tournament, on Friday compared his role for the younger team members to that of Dhanraj Pillay for previous generations.
At 36, star Sreejesh is competing alongside much younger players in hopes of securing a podium finish for India.
Sreejesh, participating in his fourth and final Olympics, previously announced his retirement following the Paris Games.
The experienced custodian from Kerala was instrumental in India’s remarkable 3-2 victory over Australia on Friday, a win that broke a 52-year-long drought in Olympic men’s hockey competitions against Australia.
“I don’t know those stats. Everyone played well today not just the defence. The defence starts from centre-forward and I am the last man. All did well today,” news agency PTI quoted Sreejesh, regarded as the ‘Wall of Indian hockey’, as saying after the match.
“I am playing with fourth generation in this team. Some were not even born when I started playing hockey. A few years back, players wanted to do it for Dhanraj Pillay. I am Dhanraj for this generation, they want to do it for me, what more you can you ask for,” he added.
Dhanraj, one of India’s greatest forwards, had inspired a resurgence in Indian hockey, leading the team to an Asian Games gold in 1998 after a 32-year gap. Before that, India secured gold in the Asian Games in 1966.
India concluded the pool stages second in Pool B, trailing behind reigning Olympic champions Belgium.
At 36, star Sreejesh is competing alongside much younger players in hopes of securing a podium finish for India.
Sreejesh, participating in his fourth and final Olympics, previously announced his retirement following the Paris Games.
The experienced custodian from Kerala was instrumental in India’s remarkable 3-2 victory over Australia on Friday, a win that broke a 52-year-long drought in Olympic men’s hockey competitions against Australia.
“I don’t know those stats. Everyone played well today not just the defence. The defence starts from centre-forward and I am the last man. All did well today,” news agency PTI quoted Sreejesh, regarded as the ‘Wall of Indian hockey’, as saying after the match.
“I am playing with fourth generation in this team. Some were not even born when I started playing hockey. A few years back, players wanted to do it for Dhanraj Pillay. I am Dhanraj for this generation, they want to do it for me, what more you can you ask for,” he added.
Dhanraj, one of India’s greatest forwards, had inspired a resurgence in Indian hockey, leading the team to an Asian Games gold in 1998 after a 32-year gap. Before that, India secured gold in the Asian Games in 1966.
India concluded the pool stages second in Pool B, trailing behind reigning Olympic champions Belgium.
