As he approached the men’s hockey quarterfinal match against Great Britain at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, veteran Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh pondered whether this could be his final game or if he would have the chance to play two more matches before concluding his distinguished career. Sreejesh delivered a stellar performance with a series of remarkable saves, leading India to a 4-2 victory in the penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time.
In his last international tournament, Sreejesh was the focal point of India’s defense, consistently thwarting Great Britain’s scoring attempts while his teammates rallied around him. During the penalty shootout, Sreejesh made crucial saves on the third and fourth shots, securing India’s win.
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Reflecting on his performance, Sreejesh described the shootout as part of a goalkeeper’s daily job, expressing satisfaction with the team’s efforts. ‘It’s a different effort on some days, but today was our day. Even in the shootout, the guys who took shots didn’t disappoint,’ he said. He credited his confidence to the successful shots made by his teammates.
India’s cohesive effort on the field neutralized the challenges from the world No. 2 Great Britain, forcing the game into a shootout where they emerged victorious at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium. Sreejesh described the match as a ‘do-or-die’ situation and was prepared to confront the challenge head-on.
‘I was ready to take the game head-on,’ Sreejesh said. ‘When I stepped on the field today, there were two options: this could be my last match, or I could have two more matches. I think, yeah, I’ve got two more matches now.’
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Looking ahead to the semifinals, Sreejesh emphasized that India will focus on their game, regardless of their opponent. He also mentioned waiting for the International Hockey Federation’s decision on Amit Rohidas’s red card issued with more than 40 minutes left in the game.
‘We are just waiting for that decision, but we need to play our best game in the semifinals,’ Sreejesh concluded.
