Steered by Sreejesh, hockey team in semis

THE INDIAN hockey team produced one of its most resolute performances in recent memory to enter the Olympic semifinals for a second successive edition on Sunday for India at the Paris Games.

This was despite being on the back-foot for a majority of the match after key defender Amit Rohidas was shown a red card for unintentionally hitting a rival player about 20 minutes into the game.

For a little over 40 minutes, a 10-man India held off Britain to 1-1, forcing a shootout, in which veteran goalkeeper P R Sreejesh proved to be a decisive force for the umpteenth time.

The 'Great Wall of India', as he is affectionately called, made a couple of crucial saves after his superb show in regulation time to steer India into the last four with 4-2 shootout triumph.

"(It is a) daily job of a goalie," shrugged the 36-year-old, who is competing in his last international event.

"When I stepped on this field today, there was two options for me. This can be my last match, or I got an opportunity for two more matches and I think, yeah, I got two more matches now," he quipped.

Head coach Craig Fulton declared that his team had not just won a match but made a statement of intent.

"When our backs are against the wall, we're all roped in. We're all in this together," he said.

An indispensable part

He might be in the last leg of an illustrious career, but Sreejesh continues to be the point of difference for the Indian men's hockey team when the big moment comes calling.

Just when you think you have seen enough of him, the genial goalkeeper from Kerala would conjure something special at the post, and leave you pleasantly surprised.

Through the team's highs and lows over the last many years, he has remained an indispensable part, playing a key role in its run to a historic bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Exactly three years later, with the team seeking a second consecutive medal at the Games, the 36-year-old goalkeeper, who is ageing like a fine wine, once again rose to the occasion and delivered an incredible performance at the post to deny Great Britain a place in the semifinals of the sporting spectacle.

During an interaction with PTI, Sreejesh once said, "Goalkeepers are like fine wine, they get better with age."

Sreejesh, will will retire from international hockey after the Olympics, is simply savouring every moment on the world's biggest sporting stage.

When he did that impromptu sit-down jig after pulling off two incredible saves in the shoot-out against Great Britain to seal a second consecutive semifinal berth for India at the Olympics, you know that this last dance could prove to be very special.

When you talk about the Indian hockey team's victory in any game, you just can't ignore Sreejesh's contribution, be it the Tokyo Olympics or at the ongoing Paris Games.

In Tokyo too, Sreejesh was key to India winning the medal after 41 years, making crucial saves in the bronze medal match against Germany, which they won 5-4.

An ever-smiling, animated character on the turf, always eager to guide guide his team members from the back, Sreejesh celebrated the bronze at Tokyo by sitting at the top of the goalpost for quite some.

And Sunday was no different as he rejoiced the 4-2 win in his wild, energetic fashion, jumping up and down on the turf for a few times.

The performance of the Indian defence and Sreejesh against Great Britain is something to savour for a long time. (PTI)