Watch: Chants of 'Sreejesh Sreejesh in dressing room as Indian men's hockey team celebrate bronze medal win at Paris Olympics 2024

Indian men’s hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh had announced before Paris that he would retire after the games.

Emotions were running high at Paris Olympics 2024 as the Indian men’s hockey team beat Spain 2-1 to clinch the bronze medal. It was a special moment for veteran goalkeeper, PR Sreejesh as it was the final match of his career.

The men in blue started their celebrations with chants of “Sreejesh, Sreejsh” in the dressing room as Sreejesh basked in the ambience of his teammates. The chants grew louder as the 36-year-old started jumping and closed his eyes as the victory meant everything for him.

Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh also carried Sreejesh on his shoulders as the squad saluted their finest warrior. One of the greatest goalkeepers in sporting history, Sreejesh climbed and sat on the goalpost after the win over Spain at Yves-du-Manoir Stadium. He held his nerve in the final moments of the match and could not believe that the team had finally done it after eight days and eight gruelling encounters.

After the final whistle, he bowed and laid down on the ground as players one by one surrounded and joined him. It was a historic moment in Indian hockey as the team had won back to back Olympic medals after 52 years.

Also Read: ‘Back-to-back after 52 years’! – Twitter erupts as Indian men’s hockey team grab bronze at Paris Olympics 2024

Sreejesh had made his Olympic debut during the 2012 London Olympics. The side finished 12th and at the Rio Olympics in 2016 India finished 8th. His third and fourth ventures at Tokyo and Paris saw the side beat all odds to stand on the podium.

His teammates had already planned on the Paris Olympics 2024 campaign being around the goalkeeper. From keeping guard in the turf, he has been an inspiration for his teammates and the fans.

For 18 years, Sreejesh had been standing strong on turf against the oppositions, his composure during the shootouts and the celebrations will never be forgotten.

Sreejesh was also part of the bronze medal winning squad during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. After having played 335 matches for India, he will be looking back at the landmark victories on the turf. For now Sreejesh will relish the win at Paris and celebrate with his teammates. The Indian men’s hockey team will again be seen during the closing ceremony in Paris at Stade de France on August 11.

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