PR Sreejesh turns into second Indian to win World Video games Athlete of the 12 months Award | Hockey Information

NEW DELHI: Veteran India hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh on Monday received the celebrated World Video games Athlete of the 12 months for his 2021 performances, turning into solely the second Indian to obtain the accolade.
In 2020, Indian girls’s hockey captain Rani Rampal grew to become the primary Indian to win the honour for her 2019 present.
Sreejesh beat competitors from sport climber Alberto Ginés López of Spain and Italy’s wushu participant Michele Giordano for the award.

“I am very honoured to win this award. To begin with, an enormous thanks to FIH for nominating me for this award, and secondly due to all of the Indian hockey lovers world wide, who voted for me,” Sreejesh stated in an announcement.
Sreejesh, a former India hockey captain and a part of the Tokyo Olympics-bronze medal successful facet, obtained 1,27,647 votes, whereas Lopez and Giordane gathered 67,428 and 52,046 votes respectively.
The 33-year-old was the one Indian nominated and was beneficial by the Worldwide Hockey Federation (FIH).
Within the FIH Stars Awards in October, Sreejesh was named the goalkeeper of the 12 months for 2021.

“By getting nominated I did my half, however the remainder was finished by the followers and hockey lovers. So, this award goes to them, and I believe they deserve this award greater than me.
“It is a large second for Indian hockey as properly as a result of everybody within the hockey group, all of the hockey federations world wide voted for me, so it is nice to see that assist from the hockey household,” Sreejesh stated.
He devoted the honour to his teammates and the behind-the-scenes assist system that propelled the facet to the rostrum in Tokyo Olympics.

“I’m an individual who would not imagine in particular person awards, particularly if you find yourself a part of a workforce,” he stated.
“It isn’t solely the workforce of 33 gamers, however you’ve got lots of people concerned behind as properly, there’s teaching workers, there’s assist workers, there’s an incredible affiliation like Hockey India who’s supporting you numerous.
“…there’s Sports activities Authority of India (SAI), who’re offering you with all of the world-class amenities to coach, there’s Odisha Authorities who’s unwavering assist helps the game develop and flourish and there is India Olympic Affiliation as properly, who re taking good care of you very well.”
Sreejesh made his senior workforce debut in 2006, on the South Asian Video games in Colombo. He has been a daily member within the workforce since 2011 after saving two penalty strokes within the Asian Champions Trophy Closing in Ordos Metropolis, China, in opposition to Pakistan.
He represented India on the 2012 London Olympics after which the World Cup in 2014. On the 2014 Asian Video games in Incheon, South Korea, he starred in India’s gold medal win, when he saved two penalty strokes in opposition to Pakistan within the last.
He led the Indian workforce that received the silver medal on the 2016 Males’s Hockey Champions Trophy held at London.
On the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Sreejesh led the Indian hockey workforce to the quarterfinals of the match.
Sreejesh has represented India in 244 senior worldwide matches.
Worldwide Hockey Federation CEO congratulated Sreejesh on successful the award.
“On behalf of the worldwide hockey group, I would prefer to wholeheartedly congratulate PR Sreejesh for this magnificent achievement. This can be a nice recognition for him, for his workforce and for hockey as an entire.”
Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam added: “On behalf of Hockey India, I congratulate Sreejesh for successful the celebrated World Games Athlete of the Year 2021 Award. This can be a very proud and particular second for India as he grew to become the one second Indian athlete to win this honour.”