P. R. Sreejesh: Difference between revisions

| image              = The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Arjuna Award for the year-2015 to Shri Sreejesh P.R. for Hockey, in a glittering ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on August 29, 2015 (cropped).jpg

| caption            = Sreejesh in 2015

| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1988|05|08}}

| birth_place        = Pallikkara, [[Ernakulam district|Ernakulam]],<br />[[Kerala]], India

| height            = 1.83 m

| weight            = 90 kg

| position          = [[Field hockey#Positions|Goalkeeper]]

| currentclub        = [[Uttar Pradesh Wizards]]

| caps2              = 32

| nationalyears1    = 2004–

| nationalcaps1      = 244

Sreejesh was born 8 May 1988, in [[Kizhakkambalam]] village, in the [[Ernakulam district]] of [[Kerala]], to P. V. Raveendran and Usha, a family of farmers. He completed his primary education in St. Antony's Lower Primary School in Kizhakkambalam and he studied until the sixth standard in St. Joseph's High School in Kizhakkambalam.  

As a kid, he trained as a sprinter, before moving on to [[long jump]] and [[volleyball]]. At 12, he joined the GV Raja Sports School in [[Thiruvananthapuram]]. This was where his coach suggested that he take up goalkeeping.<ref name="TH1">{{cite news |title= SHOT stopper |url= http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/shot-stopper/article5323006.ece |newspaper= The Hindu |date= 7 November 2013 |access-date= 2 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="SK1" /> He became a professional after he was picked by hockey coach Jayakumar  at the school, following which he played at the school before playing at the Nehru Cup.<ref>{{cite news |title= Goalie extraordinaire |url= http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/goalie-extraordinaire/article1421857.ece |newspaper= The Hindu |date= 2 August 2008 |access-date= 2 October 2014}}</ref> He completed his graduation in History from Sree Narayana College, Kollam, [[Kerala]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh profile|url=https://www.incheon2014ag.org/Sports/Biographies/Athletes_Profile/?ParticCode=5102515&lang=en|publisher=incheon2014ag.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929110825/http://www.incheon2014ag.org/Sports/Biographies/Athletes_Profile/?ParticCode=5102515&lang=en|archive-date=29 September 2014|access-date=2 October 2014}}</ref>

In 2017, the Government of India awarded him the fourth highest [[Indian honours system|civilian award]] [[Padma Shri]] for his work in the field of sports.<ref>{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2017 announced |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=157675 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=List of Padma awardees 2017 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/List-of-Padma-awardees-2017/article17092476.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=25 January 2017}}</ref>

Sreejesh made the Junior national team in 2004, in a match against Australia in [[Perth]], in 2004. He made his debut in the senior national team in 2006, at the [[2006 South Asian Games|South Asian Games]] in [[Colombo]].<ref name="SK1">{{cite web |title= Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh gets married to former long jumper Alisha |url= http://www.sportskeeda.com/hockey/indian-hockey-goalkeeper-pr-sreejesh-gets-married-to-former-long-jumper-alisha |website= sportskeeda.com |date= 13 May 2013 |access-date= 2 October 2014}}</ref> Following India's win at the 2008 Junior Asia Cup, he was awarded the 'Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament'.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Diwakar Ram in the spotlight |url= http://www.sportstaronnet.com/tss3131/stories/20080802503603400.htm |magazine= Sportstar |date= 2 August 2008 |access-date= 2 October 2014}}</ref> Having been a part of the Indian team for six years, though often losing his place to senior goalkeepers, [[Adrian D'Souza]] and [[Bharat Chettri]],<ref>{{cite news |title= The solitary keeper |url= http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/print/the-solitary-keeper/ |newspaper= Indian Express |date= 14 March 2013 |access-date= 2 October 2014}}</ref> he has been a regular member since 2011, after saving two penalty stroke in the Asian Champions Trophy Final in [[Ordos City]], [[China]], against [[Pakistan men's national field hockey team|Pakistan]], a match-winning performance.<ref name="TH1" /> His second 'Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament' award came at the [[2013 Men's Hockey Asia Cup|2013 Asia Cup]], with India finishing second in the tournament. He was a part of the team that won silver medals at the  

At the [[2016 Summer Olympics|2016 Olympics]] in Rio, Sreejesh led the Indian hockey team to the quarterfinals of the tournament .<ref>{{cite web |title=Hockey India removes Sardar Singh as captain, Sreejesh to lead at Rio Olympics |url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/hockey-india-removes-sardar-singh-as-captain-sreejesh-to-lead-at-rio/article8839537.ece |work=The Hindu |access-date=13 July 2016|date=13 July 2016}}</ref>

 

At the [[2021 Summer Olympics|Tokyo Olympics]], on 5th August 2021, Sreejesh played a key role in defeating Germany to clinch the bronze medal for India after 41 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=മലയാളി മെഡൽ; ശ്രീജേഷിലൂടെ ഹോക്കിയിൽ ഇന്ത്യയ്ക്ക് അഭിമാന വെങ്കലം | url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/sports/specials/olympics-2020/news/india-vs-germany-hockey-match-for-bronze-medal-tokyo-2020-1.5885878 | work=Mathrubhumi |date=5 August 2021|access-date=5 August 2021|lang=ml}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Olympic bronze medallist hockey star PR Sreejesh has a road named after him in Kerala |url= https://thebridge.in/hockey/olympic-bronze-medallist-pr-sreejesh-road-named-kerala-24139 |date=5 August 2021|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref>

Sreejesh married his longtime girlfriend Aneeshya, a former long jumper and an [[Ayurveda]] doctor. They have a daughter (b. 2014) Anusree.<ref>{{cite web |title= Indian hockey goalkeeper Sreejesh blessed with a baby girl |url= http://suhridsports.blogspot.in/2014/07/indian-hockey-goalkeeper-sreejesh.html |website= suhridsports.blogspot.in |date= 1 July 2014 |access-date= 2 October 2014}}</ref> His son, Sreeansh was born in 2017. He is currently employed as Chief Sports Organiser with the [[Government of Kerala]]'s [[Department of General and Higher Education (Kerala)|Department of General and Higher Education]]. Sreejesh is a member of Rotary Club of Kizhakkambalam, District 3201.

 

* 2021 – [[Khel Ratna Award]], highest sporting honour of India.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-02|title=National Sports Awards 2021: Neeraj Chopra, Lovlina Borgohain, Mithali Raj Among 9 Others to Get Khel Ratna|url=https://www.news18.com/news/sports/national-sports-awards-2021-neeraj-chopra-lovlina-borgohain-mithali-raj-among-9-others-to-get-khel-ratna-4396067.html|access-date=2021-11-02|website=News18|language=en}}</ref>

*[https://www.hockeyindia.org/players/sreejesh-parattu-raveendran-profile-56 Sreejesh Ravindran] at [[Hockey India]]

*{{Sports links}}