PR Sreejesh completes 250 international caps: FIH Pro League

    PR Sreejesh won his 250th international cap for India on February 27 in a two-legged FIH Pro League encounter between India and Spain.

    Sreejesh celebrates during a match at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Sreejesh celebrates during a match at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

    While India went on to lose the game despite defeating Spain in the same league on the pervious day, Sreejesh, this achievement was worth setting aside the sorrows of losing the game that day.

    Sreejesh announced and celebrated his fantastic success with all of his fans and followers later that day on Twitter.

    Hockey India and the Ministry of Orissa both tweeted about the feat to celebrate the hockey star's achievement, writing: “Another milestone unlocked for @16Sreejesh! Congratulations to Sreejesh, who completed 250 international caps while playing against Spain today, 27 February 2022, in the FIH Hockey Pro League.”

    Meanwhile, the Ministry of Orissa, along with celebrating Sreejesh’s 250 international caps, also took to Twitter to celebrate the fact that the star had won the title of the World Games Athlete of the Year 2021.

    Sreejesh joined the Indian team in 2006 and made his debut against Sri Lanka. He was given a regular position in the team in 2011 and has since led India to numerous significant medals.

    He led India to the silver medals in the 2016 FIH Pro League and the 2018 FIH Pro League as captain. India also earned a bronze medal in the Asian Games 2018. He also played a key part in the country's bronze medal win at the 2018 Tokyo Olympics.

    He won two ‘best goalkeeper of the tournament’ trophies in his early career, the first at the 2013 Asia Cup and the second at the 2014 Champions Trophy.

    His superlative performances also earned him the Arjuna Award in 2015, the Padma Shri Award in 2017 and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021.

    Gyanendro Ningombam, the President of Hockey India, expressed his delight for Sreejesh’s achievement, saying: “Sreejesh seems to be the backbone of the Indian squad for over a decade and is a huge inspiration to young people not only in India but all across the world.

    “He has worked hard to establish himself as a legendary goalkeeper in hockey, and I congratulate him on reaching the milestone of 250 international appearances for India.”

     

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