P. R. Sreejesh, Field Hockey Player
Field Hockey Player

P. R. Sreejesh

Born 31 December 1988 · Kerala

Winning bronze medals as captain of India’s field hockey team at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.

Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh is an Indian field hockey coach and former player. He captained the India national field hockey team and was a member of the squads that won bronze medals at the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games. He received the FIH Men's Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2020, 2022, and 2024. Sreejesh was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2015, Padma Shri in 2017, Khel Ratna in 2021, and Padma Bhushan in 2025 for his contributions to Indian field hockey.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

Sreejesh’s father sold their family cow to raise ₹10,000 for his first hockey kit, a sacrifice that proved pivotal for his career.

The Story

1
In 2006, at the South Asian Games in Colombo, P. R. Sreejesh made his senior national team debut as a goalkeeper but faced harsh criticism after missing a crucial save against Pakistan in the final, marking a challenging start to his international career.
2
🥅 In 2014, during the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, Sreejesh saved two penalty strokes in the final against Pakistan, securing India’s gold medal and ending a 16-year gold drought at the Asian Games for Indian hockey.
3In 2016, Sreejesh was appointed captain of the Indian national hockey team, taking over from Sardar Singh, and led India to a silver medal at the Men's Hockey Champions Trophy in London the same year.
4🥉 At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021), Sreejesh made over 40 saves and blocked a critical penalty corner in the bronze medal match against Germany, helping India clinch its first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Shri

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 2003, Sreejesh traveled over 48 hours by train to Delhi for national hockey trials, speaking little Hindi and living among mostly Hindi-speaking players, which challenged him to quickly learn the language and integrate.

🖼️

Through the Years

3 photographs from the archives
P. R. Sreejesh receiving the Arjuna Award from President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan (2015).
P. R. Sreejesh receiving the Arjuna Award from President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan (2015).
2015
P. R. Sreejesh with his Paris Olympics bronze medal in August 2024.
P. R. Sreejesh receiving the Padma Bhushan Award from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan (2025).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Kizhakkambalam, Kerala
Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh was born into a farming family in a suburb of Kochi, Kerala.
1988
⚡
Career
Joined India Junior National Team
Sreejesh made the junior national team debut in a match against Australia in Perth.
2004
⚡
Career
Senior National Team Debut
Debuted in senior team at South Asian Games in Colombo but faced criticism after a missed crucial save.
2006
⚡
Career
Asian Games Gold Medal
Saved two penalty strokes in final against Pakistan at Incheon Asian Games, securing gold.
2014
⚡
Career
Appointed Team Captain
Took over captaincy of Indian hockey team from Sardar Singh.
2016
⚡
Career
Olympic Bronze Medal at Tokyo
Helped India end 41-year hockey Olympic medal drought with bronze, making over 40 saves.
2021
⚡
Career
Transition to Coaching
Became head coach of Indian men's U21 team and Delhi SG Pipers in Hockey India League.
2024
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 05
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Despite being a top goalkeeper, Sreejesh’s debut senior tournament in 2006 ended with harsh criticism after a missed save, yet he persevered to become a regular only from 2011 onwards.

02 / 05
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Sreejesh was named FIH Best Male Goalkeeper three times over a four-year span (2020, 2022, 2024), a rare feat reflecting peak global recognition in his position.

03 / 05
👤PERSONAL

He began as a sprinter and volleyball player before being steered into goalkeeping at age 12 by his coach at G. V. Raja Sports School, where his minimal running preference shaped his position choice.

“

"A goalkeeper should be a crazy person and must know the art of intimidating."

— P. R. Sreejesh

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
അതിനു ശേഷം ഞാൻ ഇന്ത്യൻ വിമൻസ് ടീമിന്റെ ഒരു മാച്ച് പോലും കണ്ടില്ല | Olympian Sreejesh
More from this archive
അതിനു ശേഷം ഞാൻ ഇന്ത്യൻ വിമൻസ് ടീമിന്റെ ഒരു മാച്ച് പോലും കണ്ടില്ല | Olympian Sreejesh
01
അതിനു ശേഷം ഞാൻ ഇന്ത്യൻ വിമൻസ് ടീമിന്റെ ഒരു മാച്ച് പോലും കണ്ടില്ല | Olympian Sreejesh
Hockey World Cup 2018 | P. R. Sreejesh Speaks Ahead of #HWC2018 | Hum Tayyar Hai
02
Hockey World Cup 2018 | P. R. Sreejesh Speaks Ahead of #HWC2018 | Hum Tayyar Hai
PR Sreejesh- The man who led Indian Hockey Team at Olympics 2016
03
PR Sreejesh- The man who led Indian Hockey Team at Olympics 2016
HATED RUNNING, Now Indian Hockey Team Captain | Exclusive Interview | PR Sreejesh with Anjum Chopra
04
HATED RUNNING, Now Indian Hockey Team Captain | Exclusive Interview | PR Sreejesh with Anjum Chopra
PR Sreejesh | The Great Wall of India
05
PR Sreejesh | The Great Wall of India
Sreejesh on 919 Spotlight
06
Sreejesh on 919 Spotlight
🇮🇳 The Story of Indian hockey at the Olympics! 🏑 Ft. PR Sreejesh
07
🇮🇳 The Story of Indian hockey at the Olympics! 🏑 Ft. PR Sreejesh
PR Sreejesh wins the World Games Athlete of the Year 2021
08
PR Sreejesh wins the World Games Athlete of the Year 2021
Hockey Goal Keeper Sreejesh P R receives Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award from President of India
09
Hockey Goal Keeper Sreejesh P R receives Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award from President of India
EXCLUSIVE || Asian Games is not easy to win - Sreejesh after winning Gold.
10
EXCLUSIVE || Asian Games is not easy to win - Sreejesh after winning Gold.

🌱 What changed because of them

Sreejesh’s performances, especially at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, ended a 41-year Olympic hockey medal drought for India, reigniting national interest in the sport. His leadership and coaching roles in youth hockey have helped nurture the next generation of Indian goalkeepers, influencing training methods and talent scouting at institutional levels like the Indian men's U21 team and Hockey India League. His multiple awards have also raised the profile of goalkeeping as a specialized craft within Indian hockey.

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