Ballal praises Sreejesh: "An artist at his best"

The seasoned goalkeeper PR Sreejesh once again proved to be the hero in India’s hockey quarterfinal win over Great Britain at the Paris Olympics. Playing with only 10 men for more than half the match, Sreejesh's incredible performance was crucial. He made numerous saves, leaping and stretching to keep the British forwards at bay, guiding India to the semi-finals.

Incredible saves under pressure

Defender Amit Rohidas was shown a red card in the 17th minute, leaving India one man short. Sreejesh stepped up, blocking hits with his feet, chest, and hands. Despite relentless pressure, he ensured India conceded only one goal, thwarting seven out of eight field goal attempts and all four penalty corners.

In the shootout, Sreejesh’s brilliance continued. Harmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, and Raj Kumar Pal scored for India. Sreejesh rushed towards Conor Williamson, causing him to miss, and made a brilliant save off Philip Roper, securing a 4-2 shootout win.

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A legendary performance

Former India goalkeeper Ashish Ballal praised Sreejesh, calling him an artist at his best. Ballal highlighted Sreejesh’s agility, experience, and game awareness, stating that his presence boosts the confidence of the entire team. Sreejesh’s performance in Paris has been exceptional, playing a crucial role in India’s victories over New Zealand, Argentina, Belgium, and Australia.

This is Sreejesh’s last Olympics, and he aims to change the color of his medal from bronze (won in Tokyo) to something brighter. His match-winning saves have been celebrated by teammates and even opposing coaches, underscoring his importance to the team. As Sreejesh approaches the end of his career, his legacy as one of India’s greatest goalkeepers is secure.