Just-retired India goalkeeper P R Sreejesh is a legend of the game and will inspire the next generation of hockey players in the country, said his India team-mates on Saturday, after returning from Paris Olympics with a second successive bronze medal.
India, eight-time Olympic champions, won the bronze in Paris after beating Spain 2-1 in the play-off match. The last time India won Olympic hockey gold was in 1980.
"Sreejesh is the best person, a legend, and India calls him the 'Great Wall', amazing, that is all I can say he played his best hockey, and he has contributed to the country by playing hockey, and the standard he has set as a goalkeeper, it will inspire the next generation," forward Lalit Upadhyay said during a felicitation ceremony in New Delhi.
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"I would like to thank the entire country because of the overwhelming support you have given to hockey, like the last time but even more so now, hockey is still in the hearts of people, they continue to love the sport and continue to support," he added.
Lalit was also full of praise for inspirational skipper Harmanpreet Singh, who scored 10 goals to finish as the highest scorer of the tournament.
"The country has given him (Harmanpreet) a new nickname (Sarpanch). I am glad that the country gave him this nickname, the
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