The former India goalkeeper recently bid adieu to his glittering 18-year-old long career after India’s second successive bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
At the Hockey India function that was organized to honour the ‘Great wall of India’, Sreejesh had an interesting query from his fellow double medal winner Manu Bhaker.
When the India shooter asked Sreejesh how to deal with career lows, an honest Sreejesh responded saying you have to forget wins and losses after the moment.
“This too shall pass. (Ye time nikal jayega). Our coach taught us the term ‘water on deck’. The amount of water that is on the deck, it goes away. Same way, you lose, you win, you celebrate after victory or feel sad after defeat, you have to forget it and move forward then and there,” Sreejesh said.
“What is next, what should I do next. What can I learn from my victories and defeats. This is the only thing that will push you forward. We as players are straightforward. You have to keep a target and work for that. Never give up and trust your process,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Hockey India retired the jersey number of goalkeeping stalwart Sreejesh. .
The federation’s secretary general Bhola Nath Singh announced that the affable 36-year-old, who donned the No. 16 jersey for nearly two decades, will take up the role of the junior national coach.
“Sreejesh is now going to be the junior team coach and we are retiring the No. 16 jersey for the senior team. We are not retiring No. 16 for the junior team.
“Sreejesh dusra Sreejesh ko paida karega in junior team (Sreejesh will groom someone like him in the junior team who will wear the No.16 jersey),” said Singh at a felicitation function for the veteran.
Sreejesh and Manu were India’s flag-bearers at the Olympics closing ceremony.
