Sreejesh performed in all six video games at 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games the place India gained the silver medal
Sreejesh performed in all six video games at 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games the place India gained the silver medal
India’s P. R. Sreejesh and Savita Punia had been on Wednesday voted FIH Men’s and Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year respectively for the second yr working, on the again of their sturdy reveals underneath the bar.
In his sixteenth yr as a full worldwide for India, Sreejesh as soon as once more confirmed his worth to the group, taking part in in all 16 video games within the FIH Hockey Pro League as India completed within the third place.
He additionally performed in all six video games at 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games the place India gained the silver medal.
“The longevity of P. R. Sreejesh’s career continues to defy logic as the 34-year-old Indian shot-stopper continues to raise his game as the years roll on,” the FIH mentioned in a press release on Sreejesh, who had additionally gained the award final yr.
Sreejesh acquired 39.9 complete factors within the voting, adopted by Belgium’s Loic van Doren (26.3 factors) and Netherlands’ Primin Blaak (23.2 factors). The votes had been solid on-line by specialists (40%), groups (20%), followers (20%) and media (20%).
Sreejesh is the third participant to win back-to-back FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award. An analogous feat was achieved previously by David Harte (Ireland) who gained the award in 2015 and 2016, and Vincent Vanasch (Belgium) who gained it three consecutive occasions from 2017 to 2019.
During the course of the season, Sreejesh additionally accomplished 250 worldwide appearances, turning into the eighth Indian and the one goalkeeper to realize the feat.
“No doubt, this is a special award because the hockey fans are voting for us. This is a big honour for me and a testimony to all the hard work,” mentioned Sreejesh who’s at present on the SAI Centre, Bengaluru alongside along with his teammates within the nationwide camp for the upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League.
“Winning awards, no matter at what stage in your career you are at, is always a motivating factor. This award surely motivates me to further improve and do well in an all-important year where we will play the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar-Rourkela 2023.” The 32-year-old Savita completed on high of the voting with 37.6 factors. Argentina legend Belén Succi acquired second most factors with 26.4, adopted by Australia stalwart Jocelyn Bartam (16 factors).
‘Big surprise’ for Savita
Savita is now solely the third athlete to win the Goalkeeper of the Year (girls) for consecutive years for the reason that inception of the award in 2014.
“This surely is a big surprise and a very pleasant one. I am sure many Indian hockey fans voted for us and I thank each one of them,” mentioned Savita who’s at present taking part in for Haryana within the National Games in Gujarat.
Savita was instrumental in main India to a podium end within the FIH Hockey Pro League 2021-22, of their debut marketing campaign, pulling off an astounding 57 saves within the 14 video games she performed.
Her type solely improved on the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup, as she pulled off some unbelievable saves as India held the eventual gold medallists England to a draw within the pool phases. She additionally had a exceptional recreation within the cross-over match in opposition to Spain, making seven saves that had the viewers rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
Savita then impressed the group to a bronze medal within the 2022 CWG in Birmingham, as India ended a 16-year podium drought on the Games. She had a stellar recreation within the bronze medal match in opposition to New Zealand, which included a number of match-winning saves within the shoot-out.
“Savita was magnificent in defense of the Indian goal, often astounding her opponents with her ability to pull off saves from impossible situations. It therefore comes as no surprise that she received nearly twice as many votes from her peers around the world, as anyone else nominated in the best goalkeeper category at the FIH Hockey Stars Awards,” the FIH mentioned.
“Savita’s win comes from her goalkeeping heroics, but her impact on her team looms even larger, as not only is she the backbone of the Indian defense, but also plays a crucial role in leading the side, having taken over captaincy from the talismanic Rani Rampal, who missed large parts of the previous year due to injury.”
On Tuesday, India ahead Mumtaz Khan was voted the FIH Women’s Rising Star of the Year on the again of her stellar position in the course of the nation’s marketing campaign on the Junior World Cup in South Africa earlier this yr.
Source: www.thehindu.com