#1 Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh – Goalkeeper
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Words fall short in trying to describe P R Sreejesh’s contribution behind India’s historic Champions Trophy 2016 silver. After sitting out the Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy in April, ‘The Wall’ of Indian hockey arrived in London to lead the national team in the absence of skipper Sardara Singh. As it panned out, his relentless guarding of the woodwork was the priciest asset for India en route to their 2nd-place finish.
Germany, Britain, Belgium and Korea – each of them felt the pangs of frustration when countless well-worked chances were parried away to safety by the ever-vigilant Sreejesh. Although India conceded 4 against Australia in their last group fixture, it was the same match that saw the Kerala man convincingly shielding four successive PCs directed goalward.
Sixty minutes of tenacious goalkeeping to earn a clean sheet in the gold-medal match led to a tie-break in which Sreejesh blocked the Australians twice – but some controversial umpiring rendered his heroics futile. If India are to achieve ultimate glory in Rio, it is this outstanding performer who will be required to deliver unyieldingly.
