Hockey India Retires PR Sreejesh’s Iconic No 16 Jersey After Paris Olympics 2024

Hockey India have determined to retire the lengthy-lasting jersey No. 16 of veteran India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, saying the series at an tournament in New Delhi on Wednesday (August 14). Sreejesh retired from world after successful a second succesive Olympic bronze medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 remaining week.

“The huge series 16 jersey that PR Sreejesh used will now be retired. Or not it truly is for the senior crew. For junior the jersey may good be there for they need Sreejesh to groom the next Sreejesh,” Hockey India secretary good-based Bholanath Singh pointed out.

Sreejesh turned into popularly on the whole acknowledged as ‘Wall of India’ for his sterling teach in front of the cause. The 36-12 months-ancient brought all those characteristics to the fore in his final Olympics seem in Paris, at some stage within the quarterfinal win over Great Britain where India defeated the Brits by the use of penalty shootoffs. He turned into definitely abundant in opposition to Spain within the bronze medal playoff clash as flawless.

The old India hockey captain made his debut lower to come back in 2006 at the South Asian Video games but had a rocky start after failing to make a wanted shop within some of most likely the most desirable in opposition to arch-competitors Pakistan. Regardless of Sreejesh had his redemption in 2014 Asian Video games final, where his wanted saves in opposition to Pakistan helped India cease a 16-12 months expect Gold medal at the Asian Video games.

“Sreejesh is now going to be the junior crew tutor and we are retiring the No. 16 jersey for the senior crew. We are now not retiring No. 16 for the junior crew. Sreejesh dusra Sreejesh ko paida karega in junior crew (Sreejesh will groom any unusual like him within the junior crew who will put on the No.16 jersey),” pointed out Singh at a felicitation attribute for the veteran keeper in Delhi.

The Jersey No.16 of PR Sreejesh p.c.twitter.com/ztIE7p9Exy

— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) August 14, 2024

The 36-12 months-ancient goalkeeper turned into, if reality be urged, a coloration disappointed with the coloration of the medal this time as he felt the crew can should have done increased as he spoke to PTI potential tuition.

“Tokyo for optimistic triggered by the true reality we got an Olympic medal after a lengthy-term. Within the past we used to hear what an Olympic medal capability as hockey has a affluent history of gold, silver and bronze medals. Regardless of it never bought here in our hands. So after we bought it for the first time, that turned right into a moment,” Sreejesh urged PTI on Tuesday.

“That time we've bought been now not optimistic about successful a medal but this time we've bought been in pinnacle six and in a position to beating any crew. Regardless of (in Tokyo) to emerge as a medallist turned right into a dream,” he brought.

India’s hockey crew had now not got an Olympic medal in forty one years when it entered the Tokyo Video games.