When the final whistle blew at Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Paris for a bronze medal clash between India and Spain, each gaze was fixed on PR Sreejesh—the bulwark of the Indian defence who stood tall to let his nation hold a slender lead of 2-1. It was the last match of Sreejesh’s glorious career, and there’s no better way to walk into the sunset than securing a podium finish in the Olympics. Hailing from Kizhakkambalam in Kerala, a state where hockey is not really a phenomenon, Sreejesh carved an identity by establishing himself among the greatest custodians of the goal. If the first half of his career was marked with some agonising misses—India failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics and lost all matches in London four years later—the second half was marked with some glittering laurels. Under his stewardship, India broke a long drought by securing bronze in Tokyo Olympics, and again in Paris this year. Sreejesh was the cheat code, the impenetrable force of the team. He is leaving a void that seems too big to fill. His playing career is over, but his job in hockey is not done yet, reckons Sreejesh. He is now getting ready for his next big assignment, that is to train the next-gen of Indian hockey as a head coach for the junior men's team. 

How does it feel to have retired from professional hockey after such a successful career? 

After you come back from big events with a medal, you get a lot of felicitations, so I am currently busy with functions. The retirement factor hasn't come to me yet. I am also excited to get going with my new role as coach of the junior national team, so my brain is simultaneously working on that as well. I think I am aware that I am no longer playing hockey as a professional athlete, but my mind keeps wondering that I need to do more in hockey, in a different role now, of course. 

You have mentioned how an injury helped you realise that there's a world outside hockey. Now that hockey is no longer a part of your daily life, is that realisation helping you cope? 

Because we spent a huge part of our lives playing hockey, we thought that hockey was everything to us. However, the time spent away from the game due to injury made me introspect, and I realised that the sport is just a part of my life. I should enjoy the game but not make it my life. Life, once your career is over, is perhaps more important because you have your family, job, and other commitments that you can't avoid. It's tough, definitely. But that injury phase helped me get mentally prepared for my post-retirement life in a much better way. 

What are some of the things that you would do more actively that you couldn't do previously? 

I believe I did everything during my playing career. I made sure to eat everything but maintain patience. Now, I have more time to attend family functions and handle any family tragedies that may arise. Even though you may have time for your children and can stay up late at night, it is important to prioritise sleep. I don't really need to think about recovery and all but still, I am used to certain routines as an athlete, and I can't avoid that. I have established a routine where I go to bed at 10:30 PM to ensure I get enough sleep. 

Are there any specific hobbies or interests you plan on pursuing? 

I want to learn some of the languages like French or Spanish. 

You have been with the team for almost two decades. You have closely witnessed the lows of Beijing and London, and the highs of Tokyo and Paris. When things were bad, how did you handle it? 

I think it's important to go through hard times to become a wonderful player. I feel the struggles, the misses, and ups and downs helped me become what I am now. Every tragedy and loss taught me something which was incredibly helpful for my future victories. I have learned a lot from my struggles and try to share my experiences with the youngsters, so they are also up to my level. Because these young players will need another decade to get these experiences and understand everything. But I have already been through that phase, so it's easy for me to share my learnings. Ultimately, it's about acceptance, learning, and moving on.  

Looking back on your career, is there anything you wish you had done differently? 

I always felt like I could have won at least one Hockey World Cup in my career. We had great teams, but we just fell short each time. I am also the only player in the world to play three World Cups on home soil, so not winning the title hurts. 

How's Sreejesh as a father? 

They can always approach me, I am always free for them. We play, we have fun, and we like to travel a lot. But I am not a sweet father. When it comes to discipline, I am very strict with them. Because my parents pamper them a lot, I feel there's someone who has to be strict with them, so I take up this role. They are really proud of me. They know what I have done for the country, but I try to keep their feet on the ground. I make sure that I am the father who helps them to become a better person. 

To walk out of an illustrious career with a historic Olympics bronze in Paris is a dream for many. What was going on inside your mind when you reached there after your last match for the country? 

I felt content with everything I had achieved. What else do you expect in your career? I was just thinking about the beautiful journey I had as a hockey player. It was the last match of my last tournament. I had just won a bronze medal. The whole world was watching me. I know my contribution. I was filled with pride and glory.