Winning opening match vital to set the tone, says Sreejesh
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Goalkeeping great P R Sreejesh has always been a fierce competitor and loyal servant of the Indian hockey team. The 36-year-old Keralite has announced that Paris 2024 will be his final international tournament. In a glorious international career spanning over 18 years, he has won almost everything except a World Cup medal.
India, who ended a 41-year medal drought in the last edition of the Games, open their campaign against New Zealand on Saturday (9 pm IST). Sreejesh had a huge role in India's bronze medal-winning performance at Tokyo 2020.
"The team is excited and the mood in the camp is upbeat. The Kiwis are familiar foes for us. The final training session got over today. We will be skipping the opening ceremony since we are playing tomorrow. We will watch it online," Sreejesh told Onmanorama from Paris.
India are placed in Pool B alongside defending champions Belgium, favourites Australia, former champions Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland. The top-four sides will qualify for the quarterfinals.
The Indians will be aiming to finish higher in their pool and set up a quarterfinal clash with a lower-ranked opponent from Pool A.
Sreejesh, a veteran of 328 International caps, knows very well the importance of a positive start. "The opening match of any tournament is vital. It will set the tone for our campaign. The rhythm, confidence and points from the first match will go a long way in deciding the course of the tournament."
India had gone down to Belgium in the semifinals of the last Olympics and in the quarterfinals at Rio 2016. They have invariably found the going tough against Australia on the big stage. India will play Belgium in their penultimate pool match on August 1 before winding up their group-stage action against Australia the following day.
Sreejesh believes it's an advantage to meet the two strong sides in the early phase. "I reckon playing Belgium and Australia in the pool stage is better as compared to meeting them in the quarterfinals or the semifinals. The fact that we are playing them towards the end of the pool phase will keep us in good stead going into the knockout phase."
This is the fourth straight Olympics for Sreejesh and he is determined to go out on a high. "To be frank, I have always taken each tournament as my final one and tried to enjoy each moment. I am looking at eight games here. I want to give it my best shot and make it memorable," added Sreejesh.