Parattu Ravindran Sreejesh took birth in Ernakulam in Kerala on 8th may 1986. The Goalie won Arjuna Award in 2013 and Padma Shri in 2017.
Debut:
P. R. Sreejesh started his hockey career following his coach at his School. Prior to that, he was more interested in sports such as Track and Field and Volleyball. Sreejesh currently is one of the best goalkeepers in the World.
His debut came in Junior division in an International against Australia in the year 2004. He impressed everyone with his Goalkeeping skills and was able to fetch a call from the senior team within a couple of years.
He senior debut came at 2006 South Asian Games in Colombo. His general performance was good but questions were raised over upon his skills in the tight situation as he struggled in close encounters against strong players.
Rise to Glory:
After his initial debut in 2006, he struggled and was mostly used as a substitute. His performances were at best-described average even by the most optimistic of the fans and pundits. His Fortunes took a U-turn in the Asian Champions Trophy in 2011 Final where he saved the game in the penalty stroke. He has been a regular in the Indian team since.
His hard work has reflected in the improvement of his goalkeeping skills. His performance for the Indian team has improved exponentially. He was instrumental in India's victory in the 2013 Asia Cup receiving the goalkeeper of the tournament award.
2014, was a golden year for him. He was the hero in India’s 2014 titular victory in Asian Games held in Incheon, Korea. He also was voted the Goalkeeper of the tournament in Champions Trophy in 2014 in India’s losing cause.
Sreejesh showed exquisite hockey skills in the Champions Trophy as well as the Rio Olympics in 2016. Though India disappointed in Rio Olympics he was their knight in the shining armor. His performances in 2016 champions trophy were enough for India to bag a silver medal.
In 2018, he again showed a new side to his game, when India won medals in 2018 champions Trophy and Asian Games in Jakarta. Sreejesh captained the team to 2016 Champions Trophy in a silver-winning effort.
Club Career:
Sreejesh played for the Mumbai Franchise in HIL till 2015 after which he switched to UP franchise in 2015.
Check his bio more on Federation of Indian Hockey Website: http://www.fih.ch/global-stars/profiles/india/men/sreejesh-parattu-raveendran/
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