“It is a rebirth, that is it,” declared India’s ecstatic goalkeeping nice P R Sreejesh after rising as one of many stars of the boys’s hockey workforce’s historic Olympic bronze medal right here, assured that the feat will assist produce a brand new technology of succesful gamers.
“It has been 41 years. Within the Eighties we gained the final medal and after that, nothing. At the moment once we gained it, this provides a lift and provides vitality to the kids to select up hockey, play this sport,” the 35-year-old Sreejesh mentioned after the match.
Let me smile now ? pic.twitter.com/8tYTZEyakU
— sreejesh p r (@16Sreejesh) August 5, 2021
“It is a stunning sport. Now we’re giving a cause for them to select up hockey, play the sport.”
Why so cool king ❤️ pic.twitter.com/WJP6gt8e2i
— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) August 5, 2021
Sreejesh climbed up the objective submit to have a good time whilst his teammates cried and hugged one another in elation.
For the previous captain, it was now or by no means as he needed to have an Olympic medal after 21 years of onerous work within the nationwide jersey.
“I used to be ready for every little thing right this moment as a result of this 60 minutes is like something. I am enjoying hockey for the final 21 years and I simply mentioned to myself one factor: ‘Take the expertise of 21 years, simply play that 60 minutes’.
“Even for the final penalty nook I mentioned the identical factor: ‘Sree, you labored onerous for the final 21 years and that is what you wish to do now, that one save’. I did it, and we’re on the rostrum now.”
Main 5-4, India conceded a penalty nook six seconds from the ultimate hooter, however Sreejesh and the defence as soon as once more got here to the facet’s rescue.
Sreejesh has had an outstanding event, coming to the workforce’s rescue each time assaults have been mounted. He’s additionally part of the management group within the workforce however he mentioned his first obligation was to avoid wasting targets after which information the youthful gamers.
“When you find yourself stepping on the sphere as a hockey participant you’re a part of a dream and being a workforce member you may have your tasks, you may have your duties.
“So being a senior participant, being a goalkeeper, being a workforce member, I believe saving the ball is my first essential precedence. (The) second factor is guiding my gamers, construct up our defence, and furthermore encourage my gamers and I believe I’m doing justice to my obligation.”
He mentioned the sensation is but to utterly sink in and he’ll in all probability calm down solely after reaching house.
“That is an important feeling. I believe I want to return to my house to grasp what it’s really. Simply ready for that.”
On the video cellphone name he made after the match, he mentioned, “I simply known as my dad as a result of he was the explanation behind me being right here and I simply needed to inform him that I achieved it and this medal goes to my dad.”
Ahead Simranjeet Singh, who discovered the goal twice within the bronze-medal match, mentioned he was really dreaming of scoring the targets when he slept at evening on Wednesday.
“It was my dream and it is going to be an unforgettable expertise. After I went to sleep final evening, I used to be dreaming about making these targets and right this moment I used to be in a position to fulfil my goals and it is a very proud second for us to assist India lead on this sport.”
On India successful their first medal in hockey for the reason that 1980 Olympics, he mentioned, “We have been attempting actually onerous for the final one to 2 years. We have been working extraordinarily onerous to get these targets and make it to the rostrum.
“At the moment we now have made 1.3 billion Indians proud by ending on the rostrum. It is a lifetime expertise and we are going to try to proceed this on to different tournaments.” PTI
