Veteran India hockey goalkeeper PR Srejeesh on Monday won the prestigious World Games Athlete of the Year for his 2021 performances, becoming only the second Indian to receive the accolade. In 2020, Indian women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal became the first Indian to win the honour for her 2019 show. Sreejesh beat competition from sport climber Alberto Ginés LOpez of Spain and Italy’s wushu player Michele Giordano for the award. “I’m very honoured to win this award. First of all, a big thank you to FIH for nominating me for this award, and secondly thanks to all the Indian hockey lovers around the world, who voted for me,” Sreejesh said in a statement.
Sreejesh, a former India hockey captain and part of the Tokyo Olympics-bronze medal winning side, received 1,27,647 votes, whereas Lopez and Giordane accumulated 67,428 and 52,046 votes respectively.
The 33-year-old was the only Indian nominated and was recommended by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
In the FIH Stars Awards in October, Sreejesh was named the goalkeeper of the year for 2021.
“By getting nominated I did my part, but the rest was done by the fans and hockey lovers. So, this award goes to them, and I think they deserve this award more than me.
“It’s a big moment for Indian hockey as well because everyone in the hockey community, all the hockey federations around the world voted for me, so it’s great to see that support from the hockey family,” Sreejesh said.
He dedicated the honour to his teammates and the behind-the-scenes support system that propelled the side to the podium in Tokyo Olympics.
“I am a person who doesn’t believe in individual awards, especially when you are part of a team,” he said.
“It’s not only the team of 33 players, but you have a lot of people involved behind as well, there’s coaching staff, there’s support staff, there’s a great association like Hockey India who is supporting you a lot.
“…there’s Sports Authority of India (SAI), who are providing you with all the world-class facilities to train, there’s Odisha Government who’s unwavering support helps the sport grow and flourish and there’s India Olympic Association as well, who re taking care of you really well.” Sreejesh made his senior team debut in 2006, at the South Asian Games in Colombo. He has been a regular member in the team since 2011 after saving two penalty strokes in the Asian Champions Trophy Final in Ordos City, China, against Pakistan.
He had represented India at the 2012 London Olympics and then the World Cup in 2014. At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, he starred in India’s gold medal win, when he saved two penalty strokes against Pakistan in the final.
He led the Indian team that won the silver medal at the 2016 Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy held at London.
At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Sreejesh led the Indian hockey team to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Sreejesh has represented India in 244 senior international matches.
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International Hockey Federation CEO congratulated Sreejesh on winning the award.
“On behalf of the global hockey community, I’d like to wholeheartedly congratulate PR Sreejesh for this magnificent achievement. This is a great recognition for him, for his team and for hockey as a whole.” Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam added: “On behalf of Hockey India, I congratulate Sreejesh for winning the prestigious World Games Athlete of the Year 2021 Award. This is a very proud and special moment for India as he became the only second Indian athlete to win this honour.”
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