Nothing is certain but want to stay with this team till Paris Olympics: Sreejesh

New Delhi, Oct 09 (PTI): Veteran India goalkeeper P R Sreejesh wants to compete at the Paris Olympics but said on Saturday a lot will depend on his fitness and performance in the run-up to the 2014 Games.
The 33-year-old from Kerala was recently given the best goalkeeper award in men’s section at the FIH annual awards for his performance in India’s historic bronze medal-winning feat at the Tokyo Olympics. Asked if he would be playing at the Paris Olympics, Sreejesh said: “No player will say no to an Olympics, we are greedy people. The motivation will always be to work hard and give best. “I have had a career of 21 years. So I will always want to play one more match, one more Olympics so as long as my team members don’t kick me out, I will stay in the team for sure,” he quipped.
During the India Today conclave, he added, “But nothing is certain in a sportsperson’s life. There can be an injury, performance can go down, others can do better than me.”
Sreejesh’s former teammates Rupinder Pal Singh, Birendra Lakra and SV Sunil had recently retired following a successful Olympic campaign to pave the way for the youngsters.
When India skipper Manpreet Singh was posed the same question, the captain said: “He is going to Paris from our side. Sreejesh is the best goal keeper, so we would want him to be there at the goal. We have the confidence in him but rest depends on his fitness and other things.”
Sreejesh, who has shown the ability to get better with time, has no doubt that both the men’s and women’s teams will make the podium at the 2024 Games, but says the road ahead will be tougher.
“The motivation will always be there to change the colour of the medal in Paris. But the road is not easy. We had won a medal 41 years ago and after that Indians sent us to Olympics with a lot of expectations.