Rs 1 crore cheque to men's hockey goalkeeper Sreejesh

KOCHI: It was a surreal moment for India's illustrious men's hockey star, goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh when he shared the spotlight with Manuel Frederick, the man who defended the goalpost at the 1972 Munich Olympics, when Team India returned home with a bronze medal.

The two goalkeepers from two different eras were brought together by the UAE-based NRI healthcare entrepreneur, Dr Shamsheer Valayeel, who had recently announced a cash award of Rs 1 crore for Sreejesh. It was Frederick who presented the cheque to Sreejesh, who said it was a moment that he would cherish forever.

Speaking at the event, Sreejesh, who has earned the moniker, The Great Wall of India, because of his performance at the Tokyo Olympics, remembered the time he was first informed about Dr Valayeel's gesture.

"When I got the call first, I was certain that it was a prank," Sreejesh said. "Later, Dr Shamsheer himself spoke to me and told me that this prize was a small gift from one brother to another. For him, it may have been a small gift, but for me, it was the biggest gift anyone was giving me. I feel that decisions like these are guided by a selfless interest in sports. And I am sure that with this kind of encouragement, a golden period for sports is not far in Kerala's future." Dr Valayeel is the founder Chairman and Managing Director of the UAE-based VPS Healthcare. IANS

Also Read: Kerala announces Rs 2 cr, promotion for Sreejesh

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