What was meant to be a day to celebrate has quickly transformed into a day to forget for Kerala, as recent reports of PR Sreejesh’s felicitation function being postponed yet again, while not informing the Olympian of the same, has elicited shock.
The Kerala government announced a cash award of Rs. 2 crore for former Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh after the stalwart custodian helped the national side to their second Olympics bronze on the bounce at the recently concluded Summer Games in Paris.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan chaired the meeting that decided to honour the shot-stopper with the reward after his swansong campaign in the French Capital city.
“P R Sreejesh, who was a member of the Indian hockey team that won a bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be given a cash award of Rs two crore,” the announcement read.
Originally scheduled for August 24, the event was later moved to August 26 and eventually postponed. But, news of the same had not reached the Olympian.
But alas, upon arrival at the capital city of Thiruvananthanpuram from Kannur on Sunday, the day of the felicitation, Sreejesh and his family found out that officials had decided to postpone the program, and had also failed to inform the Olympic medallist about the same.
Sreejesh has reportedly refused to expound on the situation.
“I am not going to respond to this situation right now,” stated Sreejesh stated, according to reports from Mathrubhumi.
Sreejesh was a crucial cog in the two bronze medals the national hockey contingent won at back-to-back Olympics, Toyo 2020 and Paris 2024, and bowed out on a high as he helped the team clinch the final podium spot with a 2-1 come-from-behind win against the Spanish in France.
In a testament to the contributions made by the stalwart to the sport and the nation, his jersey number was retired by Hockey India.
The guardian has also been named as the coach of the Indian national junior hockey team in a nod to his persona and his contributions between the sticks for the Men in Blue for nearly two decades.
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