It was an exceptional performance by P R Sreejesh in the goal against Great Britain. He displayed remarkable resilience in the regulation 60 minutes to force the match into a shoot-out before making some breathtaking saves to help his team to a 4-2 win in the quarterfinals.
I got goosebumps watching him stand like a rock in front of the Indian goal, making save after save. I could not control my emotions as I stood up and applauded at the end of the nerve-wracking contest. It was an absolute thriller that kept all of us on the edge of our seats.
At the end of the shootout, before acknowledging the Indian supporters for their unwavering support, he came running towards me. All emotions came together at that moment as I hugged and congratulated him.
Born into a typical middle class family in a Kerala village, Sreejesh had to put in the hard yards to earn his place in the Indian team. He has been making not only Kerala but the whole country proud through his stunning performances on the international stage over the last 18 years. He deserves praise for all his hard work and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
I was drowned in a swirl of emotions while watching Sreejesh standing tall and putting India into the semifinals. A sea of joyous Indian fans, riding on high emotions, was chanting his name. The television commentators, who were sitting in the media box in the upper gallery, were also repeatedly acknowledging his heroics under the bar. Being a Malayali, I felt really proud and happy. Best wishes to Team India and Sreejesh for the semifinals!
(The writer is a legendary Indian athlete and president of the Indian Olympic Association)
