PARIS:It was inevitable. The question on cricket vs hockey had to pop up and it did during the official press conference after India won the Paris Olympics bronze medal at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium, on Thursday.
At a time when the Indians were cock-a-hoop after that hard-fought win against Spain, the question by a journalist of an international news agency on cricket’s popularity in India seemed to be a bit of a damper. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh looked disinterested, but like always,PR Sreejeshhandled the situation well.
Reacting to the comment that cricket was the “first three sports in India”, Sreejesh, who played his last international match on Thursday, said: “Cricket was all about money and hockey has a place in the hearts of Indians.”
Sreejesh added that the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi always took an extra interest in hockey.
The T20 format of cricket will make its debut at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 and the question was certainly not out of place. Given its extreme popularity in the USA, the recent ICC World Cup was an indication, hockey will have to match cricket for sure.
The BCCI announced a cash prize of Rs 125 crore after Rohit Sharma’s India had recently won the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. In comparison, Hockey India, on Thursday, announced a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh for each member of the men’s hockey team and Rs 7.5 lakh for each member of the support staff.
Sport is about the moment. Sreejesh saw the Paris 2024 win as a great platform for the future generation to build on the Olympics success.
“I still reckon the Tokyo 2020 bronze was special because during our career we only heard of stories of India winning Olympic medals … We actually did that after 49 years and during Covid times.”
Meanwhile, Sreejesh was named the co-flag bearer for India at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, alongside shooting sensation Manu Bhaker, who won a pair of bronze medals in shooting for the first time in India’s Olympic history.
The decision to name Sreejesh as the co-flagbearer was made after Neeraj Chopra, who won a javelin silver on Thursday, agreed to let the veteran hockey star do the honours.
“I spoke with Neeraj Chopra and appreciate the spontaneity and grace with which he agreed that Sreejesh should be the flag-bearer at the closing ceremony,” said Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha.
“He told me ‘Ma’am, even if you had not asked me, I would have suggested Sree bhai’s name’. It is reflective of the immense respect Neeraj has for Sreejesh and his contribution to Indian sport,” Usha added.