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By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, July 23
FROM a no-hoper to Indian captain, P R Sreejesh’s journey is a wonderful tale of grit and gumption. The Kerala player will lead the Indian hockey team in the August 5-21 Olympics in Rio. It is a huge assignment for the humble goalkeeper who has prepared his team to change perception about Indian hockey that returned with a wooden spoon in the 2012 Olympics in London.
‘The Hitavada’ got Sreejesh talking in an exclusive interview before the Indian team left for Madrid on their way to Rio. He spoke freely about his humble start as a player and transformation as a leader. He talked about the nuances of man management and team bonding. And he was well aware of the expectations from the team after their recent success in Azlan Shah and Champions Trophy tournaments.
“We were waiting for this Olympics since 2012. It was a disaster. We all want to change that,” Sreejesh said about the upbeat mood in the Indian camp. The team had a very good preparatory camp in Bengaluru.
Sreejesh knows it would be important to have a well-knit unit to succeed in Olympics. He is banking on his players’ sense of responsibility and willingness to contribute to strategies. “We have given them responsibilities. When they start taking responsibilities they would know their importance and start feeling “It’s my responsibility to help the team win.” That’s my way of leading a team,” the 30-year-old said.
For a youngster making debut in 2004 Sreejesh never ever thought in his wildest of dreams that he would one day lead India. “I never imagined of getting selected in the national team, leave aside leading it,” he confided even as he conceded it to Fate and Destiny.
“My basic aim was to get selected for Kerala team and play nationals. But when I got selected for the national camp I started believing that I can play for the country,” he recalled. In the spotlight for his superlative performance under the bar against Pakistan in the gold-winning Asian Games final, Sreejesh said he did not want the limelight.
“I want my players to hog the limelight. In India most of the time the limelight is on captain. But for me, my team-mates should get the importance, all the 16 players, because they are representing our country,” he said. Sreejesh feels India have the potential to have a good run in Rio. The team’s progress, he said, started from 2013 Asia Cup and after the Asian Games gold the team was able to continue with the core group. This will stand India in good stead in Brazil, asserted the captain.
(Full interview on Page 10)
By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, July 23
A SMALL town guy from a nondescript Kizhakkambalam village in Ernakulam district of Kerala has made his way to the top of the Indian hockey with sheer determination and hard work. Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh, one of world’s best goalkeepers at the moment will be leading the Indian men’s hockey team at the August 5-21 Rio Olympics.
The Indian custodian who has over 120 caps and has a road named after him in Kerala, recalled his early days when he had to play with ragged pads and jerseys, and how those days taught him to become a better person and player.
The Indian team took off for Spain on Saturday night. They would play a few warm-up games in Madrid and then go to Rio.
The 30-year-old bartender, who says goalkeeping is like a wine, which gets better with time (experience), is ready to shoulder the responsibility. He is ready to use all his experience when India hit the hockey turf at Rio from
August 5.
Before leaving the Indian shores, Sreejesh talked with
The Hitavada’s Principal Correspondent.
Q: The preparatory camp is over and the team is flying to Madrid. How is mood in the camp?
Sreejesh: Everyone is well prepared for Rio Olympics. The mood is great in the camp. All the players are eager to get the Games started. We have worked hard during this Bangalore camp. We were waiting for this Olympics since 2012 after we finished with the wooden spoon. It was a disaster. We all want to change that.
Q: How would you lead the team as a captain? What would be your mantra to make the top?
Sree: I want the players to play according to the roles given to them. Let them realise that they are important for us and their performance is important for the team. We have given them responsibilities and they should perform. When they start taking responsibilities they would know their importance and start feeling “It’s my responsibility to help the team win.” That’s how we can build the team. That’s my way of leading a team.
Q: How much will the team miss defender Birendra Lakra?
Sree: Birendra will be missed badly. He was one of the best defenders at present. But injuries are part and parcel of the game and one can’t do anything.
Q: You made your India debut way back in 2004. Did you ever imagine that one day you would lead the Indian team in a mega event like Olympics?
Sree: (Laughs) No..no.no…Never. I never ever imagined about this. I never imagined of getting selected in the national team, leave aside leading it. It’s all fate and I believe in destiny. My basic aim was to get selected for Kerala team and play nationals for the State. I had never thought of attending the national camp. But when I got the opportunity to get into the national camp, I started believing that I can play for the country. Then the dream started taking shape and I said to myself “If I work hard I can get into the Indian team”.
I owe a lot to Harendra Singh (India coach). He was the one who picked me from Kerala. He took me to the Junior Asia Cup. That was the time when my destiny changed. Harendra sir kept faith in me and gave me a chance in Junior World Cup and later I got selected into the senior team. Today, it’s a dream come true.
Q: Since 2014, you are with the Indian team playing almost all the tournaments, barring the Sultan Azlan Shah this year. Tell us about the journey in this last two years. How much have we, as a team, progressed since then?
Sree: Actually, the team’s progress started from 2013 with the Asia Cup. Then our next target was World Cup and after that it was the Asian Games where we wanted to qualify for Rio. We achieved that by winning the gold medal and a ticket for Rio. But the best part from 2013 was that we were able to continue with the core group. That helped us in team bonding and the players gelled well. That helped us in developing the team and improving our performance. If you ask me personally as a goalkeeper, I think getting more opportunity for playing in the main XI helped me in gaining more experience. It also helped me in building my confidence. That has helped me during the matches and also during defending the shoot-outs.
During this period what I learnt is that I have to give 100 per cent whenever I don the India Blue. Since then I decided that I would not let the team down because of my own performance.
Q: Though hockey is a team sport, India’s Rio berth is attributed to you alone after we won Asian Games gold beating Pakistan on penalties. What would you say on that?
Sree: I think first of all hockey is a team event. When it comes to shoot-out the responsibility goes to a single person, the goalkeeper.
But we can’t forget those players who scored the goals for us in the shoot-out. It’s a simultaneous thing. Had they not scored then we would not have won. Yes, it feels great when people recognise you and appreciate your performance.
Q: How does it feel to be in the media limelight, especially after the 2012 London Games debacle?
Sree: I think I am not more into that. I want my other players to hog the limelight. If you see the 1980 (Moscow) Olympics team after we won the gold, that team was known and remembered by captain (Vasudevan) Bhaskaran. Very few at that time knew about the other members of the team. In India most of the time the limelight is on captain. But for me it’s not important. For me it’s my team-mates who should get the importance, all the 16 players, because they are representing our country and they too contribute.
Q: As a goalkeeper how much have you improved after the Asian Games?
Sree: Right now I am working more on my basics because what I learnt earlier was totally wrong. I am now learning...like how to keep your hand, how to hold your stick, how to kick…I am trying to change those things and trying to get perfect on my basics. That’s what I am doing from last 2-3 years. That helped me a lot because when you sharpen your skills your game develops accordingly.
Q: Tell us something about your early days. Have you ever cried or got disappointed or thought of leaving hockey?
Sree: I never thought of leaving. Yes, there were disappointments and at times depressing situations. But the real thing was that I was getting daily practice. I had a place to sleep. I was getting daily food. I always kept calm. I always kept on telling myself that one day I will play better and that motto kept me going ahead.
Q: Could you recall your old days when you had nothing…no pads... no proper kit..
Sree: At that time I had nothing. I had to struggle a lot. I stitched my jersey and pads in the nights. I didn’t have a strong family background. So, it was quite difficult in those days. Those struggling days in my career helped me in becoming a better person as well as a player. Like other players I never got branded clothes. It was a normal thing. I always used to wear stitched clothes. I come from a small village and nobody there wears jeans. So it was a normal thing for me.
Q: Who would you attribute your success to, on and off the field? Who are your best buddies in your 10 years hockey career?
Sree: Adrian D’Souza (former India goalkeeper) was and will be my role model. He was also a goalkeeper like me. He changed my way of thinking. He stood by my side in difficult times. He is like my brother, my well-wisher. For 5-6 years we were together and shared the same room. We used to spend our time together. Then there was Shivendra Singh (former India forward and a room-mate) who was also a great person. He, too, was very close to me. Now, there are Birendra, Danish Mujtaba, SV Sunil and Raghunath bhaiyya. They all are very close to me. Actually this team is very closely-knit.
Q: How do you release pressure during matches?
Sree: I sing (Malayalam songs) during matches. But not when the ball is in our circle (laughs)…when the ball is in the other half. I have a habit of talking to my pads. I talk to them to motivate myself. I love to sing Malayalam songs whenever I am under pressure.
Q: Your fans and team-mates have given you several names like ‘The Wall’, ‘The Defence Minister’, ‘The Saviour’…which one you like the most?
Sree: Hahaha….I think ‘The Wall’ is the best…I love that name.
Q: Who’s you favourite singer?
Sree: I don’t have any favourite singer but yes I love to listen Yesudas’ songs. He is from Kerala (Kochi). At times I listen to Hindi songs also.
Q: Have you seen Kabali?
Sree: No...Due to tight schedule I didn’t get time to watch the movie. I tried to get tickets yesterday but you know in Bangalore how difficult it is to get tickets. We are flying at 10.30 pm so it’s not possible tonight too.
Sunil gives 10 out of 10 to Sreejesh on captaincy
By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, July 12
WITH a couple of silver medals dangling around their necks in the build-up to Rio Olympics, Indian vice-captain SV Sunil exuded confidence and hoped of bettering their performance in the August 5-21 sporting extravaganza.
Talking with ‘The Hitavada’ from New Delhi, Sunil said this Indian side would surprise several teams in the competition.
Hockey India announced the men and women’s hockey teams for Rio Games on Tuesday. World’s one of the best goalkeepers PR Sreejesh was handed the baton of leading the 16-member men’s squad while Sunil was named his deputy.
Sunil, who has played over hundred matches with Sreejesh, rated the Indian custodian as one of the finest keepers at present in world hockey.
“I would give him 10 out of 10 as a captain. He is such a great person and an excellent player,” said Sunil of Sreejesh.
The Karnataka player added, “The best thing about Sreejesh is he is very down to earth and very friendly. This helps in gelling quickly with other team-mates.”
On how Sreejesh would handle the added pressure, Sunil said, “He’s the best and he knows how to handle pressure situations.”
The Indian team is a mix of youth and experience with seven players having played London Games in 2012. Sunil said this will be the plus point for Indian side. “That’s the plus point because we have talented young players and experienced seniors. So, totally it’s a nice mix.”
Though Sunil ducked the question on where India could finish on podium this time, he confidently said they would spring surprises. “I would say one thing that we are going to surprise so many teams this Olympics,” he retorted.
The ace Indian forward, who will be vice-captain of the team, said he himself knows how to handle the pressure. “I don’t have any pressure because I have been playing for almost a decade now. It’s easy to handle the situation now,” he concluded.
India’s chances very bright at Rio, says the hockey World Cup gold medal winner
By Paritosh Pramanik
Nagpur, July 9, 2016
THE Olympic badge was placed just above the tricolour on his well ironed Indian blazer. Inside the dark blue coloured blazer was a heart that still beats for Indian hockey. Olympian and 1975 World Cup gold medal winner Ashok Kumar, son of hockey legend Major Dhyanchand, poured his heart out recalling several instances of how his chest swelled with pride whenever Indian team took top position at the podium, as he interacted with ‘The Hitavada’ at the sidelines of a square naming function after his father.
The 66-year-old was happy with the Indian team’s performance in the recently-concluded Champions Trophy as well as their show in Sultan Azlan Shah meet. In both the tournaments India finished a creditable second winning silver medals.
With just a couple of weeks left for the Rio Olympics, Ashok Kumar felt that the morale of the team should be at an all-time high.
“They have performed exceedingly well in past few months. Two silver medals in two reputed tournaments is a good sign. It shows that Indian hockey is going in the right direction,” said the 1975 World Cup winner. But Ashok Kumar refused to predict where India would finish in the quadrennial event.
“We are playing really well. The past few months were really great for Indian hockey. But the players will have to continue in the same manner at Rio. Any team can win the gold provided they play to their potential on the given day. It’s very hard to predict where India will finish but I am sure they would better their last performance,” he said.
India finished with wooden spoon at London Olympics four years back.
To elaborate his point Ashok Kumar gave example of Portugal football team which reached the Euro final. “Look where they are today and how they reached. They played hard and fought hard to reach final,” he explained.
The 1972 Munich Olympic bronze medal winner said Indian team needs players like Ronaldo and Messi.
“We have a great forwards. But Indian hockey needs players like Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo or Argentina’s Lionel Messi. If we get players like these, then nobody can stop us from winning medals regularly,” he pointed out.
“We have to improve our conversion rate. We create beautiful moves but lack in finishing. Same is with penalty corners. We have to convert those half chances,” Ashok Kumar added.
Praising the present bunch of players Ashok Kumar said, “these players are mentally very strong. They have worked really hard to reach this far. They have proved this in Champions Trophy final against Australia after losing badly in the league round.”
The former Indian forward said the format at Rio will help India a lot. For the first time in Olympic history, quarter-finals would be played. “I feel it will favour India a lot. Only four out of 12 teams would bow out of the meet. India have a great chance to reach quarters. After that it would be anybody’s game. The team playing best on the given day would win and reach the gold medal match,” he said.
Ashok Kumar also lauded Indian defence manned by VR Raghunath. “Raghunath is an excellent defender. He has shown his class in last few tournaments.”
The legendary player had special praise for goal-keeper PR Sreejesh. “Sreejesh is world number one goal keeper today. He has bailed out India on numerous occasions. Had it not been Sreejesh, India’s performance graph would have been totally different,” he remarked.
When asked if he is still hopeful of Dhyanchand getting Bharat Ratna, the legendary hockey player’s son said, “Even after over 30 years of his death, stadiums, roads and squares are named after him. That shows how great player and person Dhyanchand was.”
“Last time his name was unanimously passed in Rajya Sabha. But...,” Ashok Kumar stopped midway, adjusted his India blazer and the two emblems and signed off.
The function will be held on July 9 at VHA
n Sports Reporter
NAGPUR, Juny 7
NAGPUR Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to name a square after hockey legend Major Dhyanchand.
The square, near Vidarbha Hockey Association and in front of Patrakar Colony off Amravati Road, will be named after the hockey ‘Wizard’.
The square naming ceremony will be held on July 9 at
6.30 pm at VHA ground by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Shipping Nitin Gadkari will be the chief guest of the programme.
Olympian and World Cup gold medalist Ashok Kumar, son of Major Dhyanchand, will be the special guest on the occasion.
Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule will be the guest of honour.
Nagpur Mayor Pravin Datke will preside over the programme.
On the occasion, Member of Parliament (MP) Ajay Sancheti, Padmashree MP Vikas Mahatme, MLAs Nago Ganar, Jogendra Kawade, Anil Sole, Prakash Gajbhiye, Girish Vyas, Sudhakar Deshmukh, Krishna Khopde, Vikas Kumbhare, Sudhakar Kohale, Dr Milind Mane, Deputy Mayor Satish Holay, Standing Committee Chairman Sudhir (Bandu) Raut, Ruling Party Leader Dayashankar Tiwari, Opposition Leader Vikas Thakre, Commissioner Shravan Hardikar, VHA President Radheshyam Sarda, Gautam Patil, Kishor Kumeria, Rahul Telang, Shravan Khapekar, Sumitra Jadhav, Lata Yadav, Ramnath Sonwane, Seema Raut, Raju Lokhande, Aslam Khan, Sunil Agrawal, Munna Pokulwar, Sunil Agrawal, Ravindra Kumbhare, Dr Rizwan Siddique and others will also remain prominently present.
This will be the first square in the city to be named after Dhyanchand, who has won three Olympic gold medals for India.
The decision was taken during the special meeting of NMC in the month of March. The proposal, to name the square after the most decorated hockey player of the country Dhyanchand, was put forth by former Deputy Mayor Ganesh ‘Munna’ Pokulwar in February, 2016.
Vidarbha Hockey Association has requested all the school,
colleges, clubs and institutions
to attend the function in large numbers.
Sports Reporter
Nagpur, July 3
THE passing away of Sanjay Joshi, a former Vidarbha and Customs and Central Excise hockey player, at the age of 55 years has shocked the hockey fraternity of the city.
Joshi, who was also ex-vice president of VHA, breathed his last on Sunday evening at a city hospital. An excellent hockey player, Joshi was part of Nagpur University team that qualified for the All India Inter-University Tournament for the first time in 1982 after they won the West Zone title.
He also led Vidarbha hockey team in several national level tournaments and carved a niche for himself. Joshi also captained Customs and Central Excise team for several years.
A tall and robust defender, he was hard to tackle. Joshi’s rasping carpet driven hits were unstoppable.
While taking penalty corners, Customs and Central Excise team used to depend heavily on Joshi. He was equally brilliant while defending the short corners.
Former Vidarbha Hockey Association secretary, Vinod Gawai, who was also team-mate of Joshi, was shocked to hear the news.
“He was an outstanding person and also an outstanding player. I am very shocked,” said Gawai, who played with Joshi for several years. “He was our captain and was very sincere. Even after he hanged his boots we treated him as captain. Still, he is captain for us,” said Gawai.
VHA vice-president TN Sidhra termed Joshi’s demise as a personal loss. “I had very cordial and personal relations with Sanjay and his family. It’s a big loss for me personally,” said Sidhra.
Joshi later switched to golf and was successful in it, too, winning a few trophies.
