'Team aapko miss karegi, lekin…’: PM Modi to hockey hero PR Sreejesh upon Indian team's return from Paris Olympics 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with hockey player PR Sreejesh on Friday at his residence in New Delhi upon the Indian hockey team's return to the country with a bronze medal after participating in the Paris Olympics 2024.

The iconic athlete showed his stealth at the games as he warded off goals after his team lost the semifinal match. PR Sreejesh marked the final game of his career this year with the Bronze-winning hockey match at the Summer Games.

Under the leadership of Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian men's hockey team made history on August 8 with a 2-1 victory against Spain. This marks the country's second consecutive bronze medal in the Olympics.

During his interaction with the Indian Olympic contingent at his residence, PM Modi asked, “Sreejesh appne ye retire hone ka nirnaye pehle hi karliya tha? (Sreejesh did you make the retirement decision before),”. Congratulating the hockey team, PM Modi said, “Ye team aapko miss karegi lekin aapki team ne shaandar vidayi di, team ko bhadayi.”

The 36-year-old PR Sreejesh said, “Thoda saal se soch raha tha, mere team wolon ne bola bhai kab chodega (Was thinking about it for the past few years, my teammates said brother when will you leave hockey).” He said he joined the training camp in 2002 and played his first international match in 2004 in the junior team.

The Indian field hockey player underscored that he wanted to retire from a good platform, and the Olympics were the best place to make this decision.

The Prime Minister further noted, "It is an honour to have you all here... PR Sreejesh proved why he is known as 'The Wall'. Everyone who won a medal and even those who lost by a point, reiterated that this saga will not stop unless they win a Gold," reported ANI.

In the Olympics, this is India's 13th bronze medal overall in the national game.