PR Sreejesh feels his chequered worldwide profession resembles Malayali staple ‘Avial’ – a blended curry of 13 greens.
At 34 and within the twilight zone, all that’s left for Sreejesh is to tick a few packing containers in a profession that has been stuffed with quite a few ups and some downs.
A second Olympic medal wrapped round his neck with the big Eiffel Tower looming over him is an final dream however for now, he needs to be that secure ‘check-post’ in what will likely be his third and final Commonwealth Video games.
“The life was all the time not the identical. It was all the time filled with ups and downs. I had some actually good matches as properly some actual dangerous outings. I had a foul begin to my profession, then step by step, I’ve risen up the ranks to grow to be India’s No.1 keeper,” Sreejesh advised PTI in an interview.
“From witnessing the low of 2012 London Olympics to successful bronze in Tokyo, in between I captained the nationwide crew after which in 2018, my profession was nearly over because of an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) damage. In Kerala, now we have a well-known dish referred to as ‘avial’. It’s a 13-vegetable curry. I can relate my profession to avial,” the goalkeeper stated.
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On the 2014 Asian Video games in Incheon, South Korea, Sreejesh starred in Indian’s gold medal win, when he saved two makes an attempt in a shoot-out in opposition to Pakistan within the closing. On the 2014 and 2018 Champions Trophy, he was adjudged “Goalkeeper of the Match”.
At this stage of his profession, Sreejesh prefers quick targets.
“As a teen, I all the time used to plan for 4 years. Now, I all the time choose short-term targets. Now my precedence is CWG, then my subsequent step is World Cup for positive. If you find yourself conserving quick targets that all the time lets you focus extra in your efficiency, health and psychological energy,” added the Olympic bronze medalist.
So he mainly plans to hold on until the Paris Olympics.
“Wanting ahead, Paris is possible. I can see the Eiffel Tower however that highway isn’t going to be simple. I imagine these small steps will assist me attain there,” the lanky goalkeeper stated.
“One other Commonwealth Video games is a tough one as a result of in one other 4 years, I don’t assume I can maintain (my health) however who is aware of there you may see me as a coach,” he added.
Sreejesh believes goalkeepers are like classic wine, which will get higher with age, as he mirrored on his illustrious profession, the place he began by warming the bench and went on to grow to be among the finest on the earth.
He stated the setbacks within the early a part of his profession taught him classes to make use of failures as constructing blocks for fulfillment.
“Once I began my profession, I used to concede a whole lot of targets. The very best a part of a goalkeeper is that if you end up the second alternative, you get to realize a whole lot of expertise by sitting outdoors and watching. I discovered the sport by watching the likes of Devesh Chauhan, Adrian D’Souza, Bharat Chettri,” the 34-year-old stated.
“Over a interval, I had seniors, who corrected me and lined for me. If I might have been drafted straightaway in the principle crew, I might have completed by now as a result of the stress is just too excessive on the worldwide stage and teen may discover it troublesome to deal with on the onset,” Sreejesh stated.
“That’s why we all the time say goalkeepers get higher as they become old. Goalkeepers are like classic wine as a result of with age, their maturity stage goes excessive, their pressure-handling will get higher and so they take selections properly,” he added.
Speaking concerning the upcoming CWG, Sreejesh believes India have the potential to complete on the rostrum however overcoming the mighty Australians could be key in deciding the color of the medal.
“The crew is able to reaching the ultimate for positive. The way in which we’re performing, we are able to undoubtedly give you a greater end result than 2014. However it’s about how you’re dealing with that exact day if you end up taking part in the semifinal and closing. Positively, this crew is able to ending on the rostrum,” he stated.
“Australia is among the finest groups on the earth. We noticed their efficiency within the Tokyo Olympics as properly. So it’s not going to be very easy to beat them however the best way our crew is performing now we’re assured of giving them a tricky competitors. We’re not going to make it simple for any crew,” the goalkeeper signed off.
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