Hockey India took a big decision in honor of PR Sreejesh, retired jersey number 16

Indian Hockey Team: The Indian hockey team performed brilliantly in the Paris Olympics 2024. The team defeated Spain 2-1 to win the bronze medal. Earlier in Tokyo too, the team had won the bronze medal by finishing at number. After two consecutive Olympic medals, every Indian's chest has swelled with pride. Hockey is the national sport of India and every Indian considers this sport to be connected to himself. PR Sreejesh, who played an important role in getting the medal for the Indian team in the Paris Olympics, had retired. Now the hockey team has taken a big decision and decided to retire PR Sreejesh's number 16 jersey.

Hockey India retires number-16 jersey

Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh also announced that 36-year-old Sreejesh, who wore jersey number 16 for almost two decades, will play the role of junior national coach. Bhola Nath said in a ceremony organized in honor of Sreejesh that Sreejesh is now going to become the coach of the junior team and we are retiring the jersey number 16 for the senior team. We are not retiring the jersey number 16 for the junior team. Sreejesh will prepare another Sreejesh in the junior team (Sreejesh will prepare a player like himself in the junior team who will wear jersey number 16).

Born in Ernakulam, Kerala, PR Sreejesh made his debut for India in the 2006 South Asian Games. During his 18-year-long career, PR Sreejesh got a chance to participate in the Olympics 4 times, in which he also managed to win medals 2 times. Apart from this, he has also taken over the responsibility of captaincy for the Indian hockey team. PR Sreejesh has also been honored with the Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award by the Government of India in the year 2021 for his contribution to hockey.

Vinesh Phogat described as a fighter

Speaking for Vinesh Phogat, PR Sreejesh said that she deserves a medal because she had ensured a medal by reaching the final. She would have got a silver or gold medal. Saying at the last moment that you are unfit to play in the final. If I were in her place, I don't know what I would have done. She is a 'fighter'. She met me before the bronze medal match. She said 'bhaiya good luck, you are a wall', play well. I felt that she was hiding her pain by smiling, she is really a 'fighter'.