Hockey India Honors PR Sreejesh by Retiring His No. 16 Jersey

PR Sreejesh, a stalwart of the India men's hockey team, announced his retirement before his team's campaign at the Paris Olympics.

PR Sreejesh, who wore the number 16 jersey for nearly two decades, will transition to the role of junior national coach.

Source : PTI

Hockey India on Wednesday (August 14) honored legendary goalkeeper PR Sreejesh by retiring his No. 16 jersey at the senior level. This tribute follows his retirement after playing a crucial role in securing India's second consecutive Olympic bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

PR Sreejesh, a stalwart of the India men's hockey team, announced his retirement before his team's campaign at the Paris Olympics. Although he did not achieve his dream of winning a gold medal, the Indian team won a bronze medal, providing a memorable farewell to their legendary goalkeeper.

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Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh announced that 36-year-old Sreejesh, who wore the number 16 jersey for nearly two decades, will transition to the role of junior national coach.

"Sreejesh is now going to be the junior team coach and we are retiring the No. 16 jersey for the senior team. We are not retiring No. 16 for the junior team," said Singh at a felicitation function for the veteran and other members of the team, PTI reported.

The stage is set to celebrate Sreejesh’s incredible achievements in hockey#IndiaKaGame #HockeyIndia
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.@CMO_Odisha @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @sports_odisha @Limca_Official @CocaCola_Ind pic.twitter.com/bAEG8IiupW

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 14, 2024

"Sreejesh dusra Sreejesh ko paida karega in junior team (Sreejesh will groom someone like him in the junior team who will wear the No.16 jersey)," he added.

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At the felicitation ceremony for PR Sreejesh, the players wore identical red jerseys with Sreejesh's name on the back to show their respect for the veteran goalkeeper from Kerala.

PR Sreejesh revealed that he was inspired by Rahul Dravid's coaching philosophy and expressed a desire to begin his coaching career with junior teams, with the goal of eventually coaching the senior men's hockey team.