Thiruvananthapuram: The state government honoured Indian hockey legend and retired Malayali goalkeeper P R Sreejesh with a reward of Rs 2 crore on Wednesday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the felicitation ceremony at 4 pm at the Jimmy George Indoor Stadium, Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram. State Sports Minister V Abdurahiman presided over the event.
Sreejesh, hailing from Ernakulam, played a pivotal role in securing the Indian hockey team’s second consecutive Olympic bronze. The ceremony also saw rewards of Rs 5 lakh each distributed to four Indian players who competed in the Paris Olympics, including Malayali athletes Muhammed Anas, H S Prannoy, Muhammed Ajmal and Abdulla Aboobacker, and athletics chief coach P Radhakrishnan Nair.
Additionally, Education Minister V Sivankutty presented the appointment orders to five Asian Games medalists—P U Chitra, Muhammad Anas, V K Vismaya, V Neena, and Kunju Muhammad—who will join the Public Education Department as Assistant Sports Organisers.
A procession featuring school bands and students escorted Sreejesh from Manaveeyam Veedhi to the stadium. Ministers, national and international sportspersons, and various sports association representatives attended the significant occasion.