PR Sreejesh is an Indian professional hockey player. PR Sreejesh is known for his goalkeeping skills and has been honored with prestigious awards: Arjuna Award 2015 and Padma Shri 2017.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh was born on Sunday, 8 May 1986 (age 37 years; as of 2023) in Kizhakkambalam, a small village in Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. He is also known as PR or The Wall of Indian Hockey. Their zodiac sign is Taurus. Sreejesh attended St. Antony’s Lower Primary School, Kizhakkambalam for his primary education. Later, he was enrolled at St. Joseph’s High School, Kizhakkambalam to pursue his secondary education. Sreejesh was fond of sports since childhood, during which he played many sports including long jump and volleyball and was also a trained runner. At the age of 12, Sreejesh was enrolled at GV Rajah Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram to receive professional training in sports. After completing his primary and secondary education, PR Sreejesh joined Sree Narayana College, Kollam, Kerala to pursue a bachelor’s degree in History.
PR Sreejesh’s childhood picture
Physical Appearance
Height (approx): 6′
Weight (Approx): 90 kg
Eye colour: black
Hair Color: Black
pony
PR Sreejesh has a tribal tattoo inked on his right shoulder, which extends up to his arm. A tribal tattoo is a symbol of protection, strength and power.
PR Sreejesh Tattoo
Family
parents and siblings
Sreejesh’s father PV Ravindran is a farmer. His mother Usha is a housewife.
PR Sreejesh with his mother
PR Sreejesh with his father
PR Sreejesh has a brother, Sreejith Parattu Raveendran. Sreejeet works as a real estate agent.
PR Sreejesh with his brother
wife and children
PR Sreejesh married former long jumper and Ayurveda doctor Anisiya on 12 May 2013 at the Maha Vishnu Temple, Kizhakambalam. According to Sreejesh, when he was studying in eighth grade, he had a crush on his future wife, who was his classmate. The couple was blessed with their first child in 2014, a baby girl, whom they named Anushree. Sreejesh and Anishya welcomed their second child, Sriyansh, in 2017.
PR Sreejesh with his wife
PR Sreejesh with his son
PR Sreejesh’s daughter
livelihood
When he was 12, his parents enrolled him in GV Rajah Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram, a school where Sreejesh learned more about sports. Sreejesh’s sophomore at GV Raja Sports School suggested him to take up hockey as his professional sport, but Sreejesh was not impressed with his idea then. Talking about choosing hockey, PR Sreejesh said in an interview,
Hockey was the last resort. Growing up, I was on the heavier side. I tried shot put but I didn’t have the strength. I didn’t have the athleticism to be good at basketball and volleyball, but being a hockey goalie suited my body. Surprisingly, I was quite good at it.”
After trying several sports, PR Sreejesh chose hockey when Jayakumar, the hockey coach of the Sports School, selected him as the goalkeeper of the school hockey team. After that, Sreejesh played many interschool and state level tournaments. PR Sreejesh played his first major tournament Nehru Cup. PR Sreejesh made it to the Indian junior national team in 2004 and played his first match against Australia in Perth. In 2006, Sreejesh became a part of the senior national team, playing his first match at the 2006 South Asian Games in Colombo. In the early stages of his career, Sreejesh’s performance on the field was not that good and he was usually selected as a substitute player for the team. PR Sreejesh first came into limelight when he made a historic save of a penalty stroke against Pakistan in the 2011 Asian Champions Trophy final. Sharing his experience on playing against Pakistan, Sreejesh said,
Playing against Pakistan automatically motivates our team to perform well. I knew I had to concentrate hard – when the penalty shoot-out was going on, I was confident in my work. I was not nervous. I believed I could see India. Also, during team meetings, we watched match footage of Pakistan. After studying their strategy, I knew what they were going to come up with.”
PR Sreejesh played a major role in leading India to victory in the 2013 Asia Cup. His goalkeeping skills also earned him the title of “Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament” at the 2013 Asia Cup, Malaysia. In 2014, Sreejesh’s acumen and activeness on the field helped the Indian hockey team win the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games. Sreejesh was awarded “Goalkeeper of the Tournament” at the 2014 Champions Trophy, India.
PR Sreejesh awarded as ‘Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ at the 2014 Champions Trophy
On 13 July 2016, PR Sreejesh was promoted as the captain of the Indian hockey team. Under his leadership, India played many international tournaments including the 2016 Rio Olympics. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Indian team made it to the quarter-finals, which was a big achievement for the Indian hockey team. Although the team performed well under his captaincy but his own performance went below average after which he was removed from the post of captain and Manpreet Singh was made the captain.
PR Sreejesh also has a long career as a club player. He was bought by Mumbai Magicians for $38,000 (approximately Rs 28 lakh) and he played for Mumbai Magicians in Hockey India League matches from 2013 to 2015. Subsequently, he played for UP Wizards, to whom he was auctioned for $69,000 (approximately Rs 51 lakh) in 2015. He shared his experience of Hockey India League like this
You won’t get such fame, money and exposure anywhere else. Today, playing in HIL is every hockey player’s dream and it has changed the profile of hockey in the entire country. Since 2010, there is not a single national level player who is struggling to make a living on the streets. It is not just about the lifestyle and glamour, but about the sense of pride and identity as a respected hockey player that it instills in the players.
In 2018, he again proved his proficiency on the field by leading India to a silver medal at the Breda Champions Trophy and a bronze medal at the Jakarta Asian Games. After the tournament PR suffered several serious injuries including a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus on his right knee. He had to take a recovery break of eight months to return to hockey.
In 2021, after a wait of 41 years, the Indian hockey team won a medal in the Olympics by defeating the German team 5-4. With just seconds left in the game, Germany were awarded a penalty corner; However, PR Sreejesh hit the ball wide of the goal post as the Indian players fell to the ground in joy, finally ending the long wait for a hockey medal at the Olympics. PR Sreejesh used his goalkeeping skills and experience to help India win the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and make the whole of India proud. Sreejesh posted a picture of his medal cutting on social media and captioned it
Yes…..it tastes salty, yes…. I remember, this is my sweat for the last 21 years 😓.”
PR Sreejesh wins his bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020
medal
Sleep
- 2014: Asian Games, Incheon
- 2019: FIH Men’s Series Final, Bhubaneswar
silver
- 2014: Commonwealth Games, Glasgow
- 2016: Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy, London
Brass
- 2015: Men’s FIH Hockey World League, Raipur
achievements
- 2008: Junior Asia Cup, ‘Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament’
- 2013: Best Goalkeeper of the Asia Cup Tournament
Awards and Honors
Arjuna Award
PR Sreejesh became the recipient of the Arjuna Award in 2015 after his commendable performance as the goalkeeper and vice-captain of the Indian men’s hockey team. Arjuna Award is given to sportspersons in India for their outstanding performance in the field of sports.
PR Sreejesh receiving the prestigious Arjuna Award from the President of India, Shri Pranab Kumar Mukherjee
Padma Shri
In 2017, PR Sreejesh was awarded the ‘Padma Shri’, India’s fourth highest civilian award, which he received from former President of India Pranab Kumar Mukherjee. This award is presented every year on the Republic Day of India to the citizens of India for their notable contributions in various fields. Dedicating his award to his team members, PR Sreejesh said,
I would like to dedicate this award to my team who have performed exceptionally well over the last few years. We have grown from strength to strength together and enjoyed success while also carrying each other through heartbreaking defeats. If there was no teamwork, my recognition would not have been possible.”
PR Sreejesh receiving India’s fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, from the President of India Pranab Kumar Mukherjee
Khel Ratna Award
In November 2021, he became one of the twelve awardees of India’s highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Controversy
According to Sreejesh, when he was returning from Malaysia after winning the Asian Champions Trophy 2016, he was charged extra Rs. Rs 1500 charged by AirAsia for carrying his equipment bag. Given, whose weight did not exceed the prescribed weight limit. “Extra charge for sports equipment bags weighing less than 15 kg?? Are they expecting me to carry a makeup kit?? .. Fun concept @AirAsia,” Sreejesh tweeted along with a screenshot of the penalty receipt.
PR Sreejesh’s Twitter post
Favorite
- Hockey Players: Adrian Albert D’Souza, Baljeet Dadwal
- Dialogue from the film: Rajinikanth’s line from Baasha (1995), “Naan Oru Darva Sonna Adhu Nooru Darva Sollara Madaari” (If I say something once, it is like saying it 100 times).
Signature
PR Sreejesh’s signature
Facts/General Knowledge
- PR Sreejesh loves to spend his free time reading books and has a large collection of novels.
PR Sreejesh reading a book
- PR Sreejesh told during an interview that his father had sold his cow to buy hockey equipment for him.
- A road in the city of Sreejesh is named after him for his contribution to Indian hockey.
PR Sreejesh standing under the signboard mentioning a road named after him
- Sreejesh has walked the runway for many famous designers of India.
PR Sreejesh walking the runway
- PR Sreejesh is a nature lover and is often seen planting trees around his residence.
PR Sreejesh taking selfie while planting trees
- PR Sreejesh follows a non-vegetarian diet.
PR Sreejesh enjoying non-vegetarian meal with his friends
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn