Overview
Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh, popularly known as P. R. Sreejesh, is an Indian former field hockey goalkeeper who served as the custodian of the Indian men's national hockey team for over a decade and a half. Widely regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in the history of Indian hockey, he played a central role in India's bronze medal triumphs at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. His save in the closing seconds of the bronze medal match at Tokyo, which sealed India's first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years, is considered one of the iconic moments in Indian sport.
Key Facts
| Full name | Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 May 1986, Kizhakkambalam, Ernakulam district, Kerala |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| National team | India (men's senior team) |
| International debut | 2006 |
| Retirement | August 2024 (after Paris Olympics) |
| Spouse | Aneeshya |
| Honours | Padma Shri (2017), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2021), Arjuna Award (2015), Padma Bhushan (2025) |
| Post-playing role | Chief coach, India men's junior hockey team (from 2024) |
Background and Early Life
Sreejesh was born to Raveendran, a farmer, and Usha in Kizhakkambalam, a village near Kochi in Kerala. He attended St. Joseph's High School at Kizhakkambalam, where he initially trained as a long jumper and sprinter. He took up hockey at the age of 12 at the G. V. Raja Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram, where coach Jayakumar suggested he try goalkeeping. He later studied at Sree Narayana College, Kollam.
Domestic and Club Career
Sreejesh has represented Kerala in the senior nationals and has been employed with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). In the Hockey India League (HIL), he played for several franchises including the Mumbai Magicians and Uttar Pradesh Wizards.
International Career
Early Years (2004–2010)
Sreejesh first came into prominence with the Indian junior team that won the bronze medal at the 2005 Junior Asia Cup in Karachi. He made his senior international debut in 2006 against South Africa during the South Asian Games in Colombo. Over the following years he competed for the goalkeeping position with established custodians such as Adrian D'Souza and Bharat Chetri.
Establishment as First-Choice Goalkeeper (2011–2016)
His breakthrough performance came at the 2011 Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos, China, where his saves in the final against Pakistan helped India lift the title. He was a member of the Indian squads at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 World Cup at The Hague. At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Sreejesh saved two penalty strokes in the shootout of the final against Pakistan, securing the gold medal and direct qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Captaincy and Continued Service (2016–2020)
Sreejesh captained India at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where the team reached the quarter-finals. He led India to silver at the 2016 Champions Trophy in London and to gold at the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy in Kuantan. He was part of the squads that won bronze at the 2018 Champions Trophy in Breda and gold at the 2017 Asia Cup in Dhaka.
Olympic Bronze Medals (2021 and 2024)
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held in 2021, Sreejesh's performances were instrumental in India's 5–4 victory over Germany in the bronze medal match, ending a 41-year wait for an Olympic hockey medal. He repeated the feat at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where India beat Spain 2–1 to claim back-to-back Olympic bronze medals. The Paris Games were his fourth Olympics and he announced his retirement from international hockey immediately afterwards.
Coaching Career
In August 2024, Hockey India appointed Sreejesh as the head coach of the Indian men's junior national team. Under his guidance, the junior side has continued participation in events such as the Sultan of Johor Cup and the Junior Asia Cup.
Honours and Awards
- Padma Bhushan – 2025
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award – 2021
- Padma Shri – 2017
- Arjuna Award – 2015
- FIH Goalkeeper of the Year – 2021, 2022
- Olympic bronze medal – Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
- Asian Games gold – 2014 Incheon; Asian Games bronze – 2018 Jakarta–Palembang
- Asia Cup gold – 2017 Dhaka; Asia Cup silver – 2022
- Asian Champions Trophy gold – 2011, 2016, 2023
- Commonwealth Games silver – 2014 Glasgow, 2022 Birmingham
Personal Life
Sreejesh married Aneeshya in 2013, and the couple have two children, daughter Anushree and son Sreeansh. He is based in Kochi when not on national duty.
Significance
Sreejesh's career coincided with the resurgence of Indian men's hockey after a long lean period. His longevity, calmness under pressure, and ability to deliver in shootouts made him the cornerstone of the team's revival. He is one of the most-capped Indian hockey players, having represented the country in over 300 international matches, and is credited with raising the profile of goalkeeping as a specialist craft in Indian hockey.