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PR Sreejesh made a poignant statement, posing with a couple of jerseys that seek to signify a 24-year hockey journey that began while he was still in school and is poised to end at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Sreejesh, one of Indian hockey's most celebrated goalkeepers, had earlier announced that the Paris Games would be his last tournament.
The 36-year-old's declaration struck an emotional chord with the hockey fraternity, as the Indian men's hockey team decided to launch a "win it for Sreejesh" campaign.
"My first jersey… & …. My last one, 24 years of journey, #gvrajasportsschool, the one as a kid in 2000 ….. and The one after 24 years," Sreejesh posted on X.
The touching image of a smiling yet emotional Indian goalkeeper holding aloft his school jersey in one hand while displaying his India jersey in the other in front of the Olympic rings made for a moving spectacle.
The former India captain had earlier stated that he had discussed his retirement plans with his teammates before taking the call.
The 2020-21 FIH Player of the Year, who has played a total of 328 internationals, will be taking part in his fourth Olympics. He has represented India at the London Games in 2012 followed by Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021.
Looking back at PR Sreejesh's incredible hockey journey
Sreejesh who took to sports early discovered that he had a penchant for goalkeeping while in school before making his junior debut against Australia in 2004.
The Kochi-born player made his presence felt early by playing a stellar role in the 2008 Junior Asia Cup that the Indians went on to win.
He who made his way into the senior side at a time when Adrian D'Souza and Bharat Chetri were first-choice goalkeepers soon cemented his place in the side.
Even as the Indians won an Asian Games gold in 2014 which came after a gap of 16 years, it was Sreejesh who made some vital saves in the penalty shootout against Pakistan.
After having sustained an injury during the 2017 Azlan Shah Cup, the Indian goalkeeper clawed his back into the side. He went on to lead his team to a memorable silver medal-winning performance in the final edition of the Champions Trophy in Breda in 2018.
The stalwart continued to excel in front of goal even as the likes of Krishan Pathak and Suraj Karkera made their way into the senior national side. At the 2021 Olympics, it was Sreejesh who kept the German strikers at bay in the pulsating final moments of the bronze medal match against Germany.
The Padma Shri awardee also guarded the Indian goal when the Harmanpreet Singh-led side won the Asian Games gold last year which earned the Indian men's team a direct ticket to the 2024 Paris Games.
