New Delhi: Indian hockey star PR Sreejesh has said that goalkeepers are like wine which gets tastier if kept longer as he reflected on his illustrious career from warming the bench to becoming one of the best in the world.
PR Sreejesh said the setbacks in the early part of his career taught him lessons to take failures as stepping stones to success.
“The first few years were quite hard for me. It took time for me to understand what exactly is international hockey? With time the game has changed, the game has got faster, so every tournament teaches you something,” Sreejesh told this agency.
“When I started my career I used to concede a lot of goals but still everyone had faith in me, they kept motivating me. The best part of a goalkeeper is that when you are the second choice you get to gain a lot of experience by sitting outside and watching. I am very much grateful to my seniors for their suggestions,” informed PR Sreejesh.
“And this is where I am today after overcoming all the obstacles. Goalkeepers are like wine, the longer you keep it, the better it tastes,” the veteran added with a smile.
At 33, Sreejesh is at the twilight of his career but the lanky custodian from Kerala has not planned anything yet about his future.
“I am not planning anything yet because now it’s more important to focus on Olympics and after that how the circumstances will be we don’t know. So, it’s all about short-term goals,” Sreejesh said, when asked about his retirement plans after Olympics.
“For me the next focus is FIH Pro League where we are going to meet a lot of tough opponents. When it comes to a senior-most player you need to keep short goals all the time to sharpen yourself and perform your best,” added the former Indian captain.
Srejjesh said that the country has left behind the lean patch of 2008-2012 and predicted a much-improved show in the Tokyo Games than any of the last few Olympics.
India failed to qualify for the 2008 Olympics and four years later, the team finished last in the London Games. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, India bowed out in the quarterfinals.
“If you take it from 2008 till 2016, the low point for Indian hockey was 2008 when we failed to qualify. In 2012, we finished last, and in 2016 we finished eighth. I feel this time we will improve and prove ourselves,” asserted Sreejesh.
After opting out in its maiden season last year, India will make their debut in the FIH Pro League against the Netherlands in a home fixture January 18 and 19.
The Pro League involves nine teams in men’s and women’s sections, each playing on home and away basis on a two-year schedule.
India will host their first six matches. After facing the Dutch, they will take on Belgium, February 8-9 followed by matches against defending champions and World No. 1 Australia, February 22-23.
“In Pro League and the Olympics, our opponents will be much better and difficult. They will play more attacking hockey. But I think we are ready for the battle,” signed off Sreejesh.
Agencies