“It’s a good wake-up call for the team” - PR Sreejesh on India’s close 3-2 win over NZ in Paris 2024 Olympics
After the Indian men’s hockey team narrowly defeated New Zealand 3-2 in their first Paris 2024 Olympics match on Saturday (July 27), veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh said that the result was a wake-up call for the team ahead of tougher pool matches against stronger teams.
“The first match in the Olympics is never easy. New Zealand is not an easy team, We made some mistakes, but there were a few good things as well. It’s a good wake-up call for the team,” PR Sreejesh said, as per PTI.
New Zealand, ranked 10th in the world, took an early lead in the match against India. Despite the Men in Blue wresting the lead eventually, New Zealand fought back with an equalizer, and India had to rely on a last-gasp penalty goal from captain Harmanpreet Singh to save their blushes.
“We got three points and that’s what is important. We gave them opportunities and they converted. The last few minutes were not easy but in hockey it’s always like that, from first whistle to the last there is tension,” Sreejesh said.
“We made some mistakes” - India coach Craig Fulton agrees with PR Sreejesh analysis on NZ Win
The Indian men’s hockey team coach Craig Fulton agreed with former captain PR Sreejesh’s analysis that India’s performance against the Kiwis was less than perfect.
“It wasn’t the perfect performance, but we had a plan. We stuck to it,” the coach told PTI.
“We had a good game. And I’m glad that we got the win the way we did because we made some mistakes. They punished us for it. And at the end of the day, we came back and got the win. This is the Olympics. So everyone’s primed. You know, it’s no easy team," he added.
India will face Argentina in their second Pool B match on Monday (July 29). The other teams in Pool B include Belgium, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand.
The Indian men’s hockey team will give it their all to win their second consecutive Olympic hockey medal after a bronze win in Tokyo 2020.
Harmanpreet & co will be further motivated to secure a podium finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics to give a heroic send-off to legendary goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who is appearing in his fourth and final Olympic Games.