Editorial Exclusive Interviews Hockey Olympic Sports Paris 2024

“I sat on the goal post and was imagining everything” – Sreejesh talks about his last bow

August 9, 2024
Snehasis Mukherjee
Boria Majumdar with PR Sreejesh after the win
Boria Majumdar with PR Sreejesh after the win (PC: Boria Majumdar)

Boria Majumdar and RevSportz staff

India’s men’s hockey team made history on Thursday by defeating Spain 2-1 in the bronze medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Following their heroic performance in Tokyo, the team once again delivered a remarkable display throughout the tournament. After this historic victory, the team’s players, staff, and members engaged in exclusive conversations with RevSportz’s Editor-in-Chief, Boria Majumdar, and other correspondents. Here are the highlights from those interviews:    

PR Sreejesh to Boria Majumdar

Why are you doing this to us to yourself and to the whole country? Why? Seriously, reconsider your retirement decision!

Sreejesh: See, let me go home and the family, they are all waiting for me.

44 seconds on the clock, penalty corner, 38 seconds on the clock, penalty corner, describe it?

This is what happens, when one team is desperate to get a goal. They come like anything and they try to attack you with more energy. But I think the players had that confidence that we, even if we consider PC, we are there to save it. Those seconds, it is for me to show my face to the country for the last time!

You were telling us about speaking to the goal post. Tell my viewers.

It is about my time. I call it like me time. When I stepped on the field, I walked into the centre, I just imagined that this is going to be my last one. Then I went back, I sat on the goal post and I was just imagining everything. How I started to play hockey, the way I got my first pair, the way I played for my state first, then I got into the national camp, first incident, first international, the losses!

Back-to-back medals. Words?

I worked really hard and it took me 24 years of hard work to get those two medals. But a lot of youngsters who grabbed it in their first chance. My journey was different. So, if you do not get the first chance, do not be sad. Just keep faith, work hard, trust your process at the end, you will get the medal.

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Harmanpreet Singh and Bholanath Singh to Boria Majumdar

Captain, 10 Goals, second medal. Tell us.

Harmanpreet: This is a very special moment, because it was very important for hockey that we win this medal. Last time we did it, we had to do it back to the history and I really want to thank Sir, who is standing with us from day 1, and the support we got from India. So, I think that is very important for us. You have your federation, SAI and they are standing with us and you are getting a facility, you are getting a tournament and matches, you are going out of India. So, I want to thank you from my heart.

But there is a different pressure in the captain. From Bhuvneshwar to today’s Harmanpreet Singh… tell us.

Bholanath: When I became the Hockey India’s Secretary-General, I was looking for a captain who is strong physically, tactically and mentally. All those traits I found in Harmanpreet.  

Words on Sreejesh?

Harmanpreet: Sir, we will not miss him as he will be always with us, with our team. The respect we have for him, and now as the head coach of the junior Indian hockey team, he will be with us only in Bangalore. It is a big salute to him because the journey he had for team India for such a long time, it is just phenomenal.

 

Bronze medals back-to-back. What are you telling us?

Bholanath: Till the next LA Olympics 2028, Harmanpreet will be our captain. I can confirm.

Bholanath Singh to Boria Majumdar

How important was this medal to you?

Our target was to play the final. But, due to that Amit Rohidas incident, we failed, otherwise we would have played the final.

There have been some umpiring errors. So, are you going to talk about these?

See, I have already delivered my statement to the authorised body, but a rule is a rule. The same what happened with Vinesh Phogat. So, nothing changed, but I will try my best to ensure that in coming days, such days are not waiting for India.

Prize money for players and staff?

See, as per our capability, we have announced for players and support staff, and they absolutely deserve it.

Words on Sreejesh, his last match?

Sreejesh was our pillar, for the team and for Hockey India. So, I am confirming that he will be with us, as he will be our new coach for the junior Indian hockey team.

 

Shivendra Singh to Abhijit Deshmukh

Another medal, what are your thoughts?

­See, our aim was to play the gold medal match, especially the way we prepared. But, at least, we are not returning empty-handed. Winning back-to-back medals is also a huge achievement.

What was the mindset after semi-final loss vs Germany?

It was a setback, for sure, but we have experienced players who played the semi-final in the last Olympics also. So, as a team, we made a comeback and won!

Words on Sreejesh’s retirement?

First of all, big congratulations to him as he finished his career today with another Olympic medal. It was our only target to win this game for Sreejesh, to make this memorable for him.

Lalit Kumar Upadhyay to Abhijit Deshmukh

How are you feeling? Back-to-back medals.

See, as a country, after winning another medal and that too back-to-back, it is a huge thing for us. It is a different feeling, especially after all the sacrifices we have done.

Which is the favourite victory?

See, for me, the victory against Great Britain in the quarterfinal, despite being a 10-man team. I want to thank each and everyone who supported us on that day.

 

Mandeep Singh to Rohan Chowdhury

How are you feeling after winning back-to-back Olympic medals?

See, I am feeling extremely happy for the achievement. The way we played, the aim was to change the colour of the medal this time around. But, still, we won a medal and defeated Australia after 52 years, and played exceptionally well vs Great Britain with 10 men.

What was the mentality before the bronze medal match after that semi-final defeat?

Nothing much. We all were motivating each other that this is the match, moment where we can win a medal for the country. Thankfully, we delivered and won it.

Few words on Sreejesh and Harmanpreet?

I have played with him (Sreejesh) for 12-13 years now. He will always be the ‘Wall of Indian Hockey’ and I have learned a lot of things. For Harman, he is our best player, key player, captain, scorer. Whenever team need him, he stands up and delivers.

 

Also Read: Indian hockey winning a medal again means so much for the sport