NEW DELHI: Initially, PR Sreejesh harbored resentment towards Aneeshya due to her academic superiority at their school. However, as often depicted in Bollywood films, “hate” gave way to affection. This marked the beginning of their romantic journey at the GVN Sports School in Kerala.
In time, Aneeshya, a long jumper, returned Sreejesh’s feelings and acknowledged him as her destined partner, despite his future role as the national hockey team’s goalkeeper.
Sreejesh shared details about his romantic journey with Aneeshya during a candid discussion with PTI editors on Tuesday. The conversation took place following his retirement from the national team after the conclusion of the Paris Olympics. Sreejesh was already a student at the sports school in Kannur when Aneeshya joined the institution in 2001.
“I was a bright student, top of the class. I was a superstar, the teacher’s pet and favourite of everyone. She came and suddenly I see, she was better than me, scoring well in everything. I would score between 35 to 42 out of 50, she was getting 49, straight up 50.
“So I started to hate her; we became enemies and that’s how it was before love blossomed,” he said.
Their love story spans over two decades, with more than 10 years as a married couple.
For proof of their enduring bond, one only needs to look at Sreejesh’s hockey sticks at the Paris Olympics—her name was engraved on a customized stick used by the 36-year-old goalkeeper in what marked the end of his illustrious career with a second consecutive bronze medal for India, bringing his international caps to an impressive 336.
Aneeshya, now an Ayurveda doctor, married Sreejesh in 2013 in an intimate temple ceremony attended by close family and friends.
In a recent conversation with PTI Bhasha, Aneeshya shared her mixed emotions about Sreejesh’s retirement from international hockey. While she was glad to have more time with him at home, she admitted that the sports fan in her would miss his commanding presence in the Indian goalpost.
Sreejesh also reflected on his early days in hockey, revealing that his initial goal was to secure a stable job—a key factor in convincing Aneeshya’s parents that he was a suitable match for her.
“…in Kerala before approaching the girl’s father, you have to be financially secure,” he said.
It goes without saying that he triumphed in life, marrying the girl he loved before becoming a living legend in the sport he dedicated himself to – a story straight out of a Bollywood fairytale.
“When I was a kid, I used to love watching movies, love stories,” he said with a mischievous grin on his face, remembering the time he started living in a sports hostel just to be able to watch films whenever he wanted with his friends.
“That was my intention to join the hostel, not the sports,” he admitted.
‘Don’t want my kids to feel burdened by my legacy’
Sreejesh and Aneeshya have two children – son Sreeansh and daughter Anusree. Their names were also engraved on the hockey sticks Sreejesh used alternately during the Olympic Games matches.
“They (the children) are like my eyes, you can’t have a favourite eye. But you have just one heart, so that’s for my wife,” he said.
“In matches, I can rotate sticks and I try to use both the sticks with the names of my son and daughter. My daughter likes pink whereas my son likes blue.
“But in shootouts, you don’t have a choice, you have to use one stick. Similarly, when you are married, you don’t have choice,” he quipped.
“You have to keep everyone happy.”
Speaking of happiness, Sreejesh said he never forces his choices on his children and would never want them to feel burdened by his rich legacy either.
“My daughter said she likes swimming, so I sent her for swimming and after seeing (PV) Sindhu, she wanted to become a badminton player. I said you start badminton no problem.
“My son wanted to become Virat Kohli, but now he is not working out at all. He said ‘no dad I can’t sweat’…if they want to pick up something I am more than happy because I don’t want my name to be a burden on their shoulders.
“In India you do have a tendency to compare children with parents. I don’t want to do that,” said the man who was widely considered the heart of the Indian team.
In time, Aneeshya, a long jumper, returned Sreejesh’s feelings and acknowledged him as her destined partner, despite his future role as the national hockey team’s goalkeeper.
Sreejesh shared details about his romantic journey with Aneeshya during a candid discussion with PTI editors on Tuesday. The conversation took place following his retirement from the national team after the conclusion of the Paris Olympics. Sreejesh was already a student at the sports school in Kannur when Aneeshya joined the institution in 2001.
“I was a bright student, top of the class. I was a superstar, the teacher’s pet and favourite of everyone. She came and suddenly I see, she was better than me, scoring well in everything. I would score between 35 to 42 out of 50, she was getting 49, straight up 50.
“So I started to hate her; we became enemies and that’s how it was before love blossomed,” he said.
Their love story spans over two decades, with more than 10 years as a married couple.
For proof of their enduring bond, one only needs to look at Sreejesh’s hockey sticks at the Paris Olympics—her name was engraved on a customized stick used by the 36-year-old goalkeeper in what marked the end of his illustrious career with a second consecutive bronze medal for India, bringing his international caps to an impressive 336.
Aneeshya, now an Ayurveda doctor, married Sreejesh in 2013 in an intimate temple ceremony attended by close family and friends.
In a recent conversation with PTI Bhasha, Aneeshya shared her mixed emotions about Sreejesh’s retirement from international hockey. While she was glad to have more time with him at home, she admitted that the sports fan in her would miss his commanding presence in the Indian goalpost.
Sreejesh also reflected on his early days in hockey, revealing that his initial goal was to secure a stable job—a key factor in convincing Aneeshya’s parents that he was a suitable match for her.
“…in Kerala before approaching the girl’s father, you have to be financially secure,” he said.
It goes without saying that he triumphed in life, marrying the girl he loved before becoming a living legend in the sport he dedicated himself to – a story straight out of a Bollywood fairytale.
“When I was a kid, I used to love watching movies, love stories,” he said with a mischievous grin on his face, remembering the time he started living in a sports hostel just to be able to watch films whenever he wanted with his friends.
“That was my intention to join the hostel, not the sports,” he admitted.
‘Don’t want my kids to feel burdened by my legacy’
Sreejesh and Aneeshya have two children – son Sreeansh and daughter Anusree. Their names were also engraved on the hockey sticks Sreejesh used alternately during the Olympic Games matches.
“They (the children) are like my eyes, you can’t have a favourite eye. But you have just one heart, so that’s for my wife,” he said.
“In matches, I can rotate sticks and I try to use both the sticks with the names of my son and daughter. My daughter likes pink whereas my son likes blue.
“But in shootouts, you don’t have a choice, you have to use one stick. Similarly, when you are married, you don’t have choice,” he quipped.
“You have to keep everyone happy.”
Speaking of happiness, Sreejesh said he never forces his choices on his children and would never want them to feel burdened by his rich legacy either.
“My daughter said she likes swimming, so I sent her for swimming and after seeing (PV) Sindhu, she wanted to become a badminton player. I said you start badminton no problem.
“My son wanted to become Virat Kohli, but now he is not working out at all. He said ‘no dad I can’t sweat’…if they want to pick up something I am more than happy because I don’t want my name to be a burden on their shoulders.
“In India you do have a tendency to compare children with parents. I don’t want to do that,” said the man who was widely considered the heart of the Indian team.
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