After 336 international appearances, the goalkeeper and captain of the historic Olympic bronze medallists will return home having fulfilled not only his dream but that of a whole country that fervently supported the team throughout Paris 2024, especially during the third-place play-off against Spain in Colombes, just an hour's train ride from Paris.

Sreejesh produced a sensational performance worthy of the greats of world sport, even if not all of them achieve what he did. His outstanding individual effort helped India to a 2-1 victory over Spain, and the team bronze medal crowned an exceptional performance at Paris 2024.

"I think if I put it into words, you won't understand because this has been my home for the last 24 years," said the 36-year-old goalkeeper, who ended his career by adding a second Olympic bronze medal to the one he won at Tokyo 2020. "I've never had a life off the pitch, so I didn't know what was going to happen to me next.

"I just wanted to have my own feelings, to have all the memories. From the day I stepped on a hockey field for the first time, the day I put on the pads for the first time and the way I joined the Indian team for the first time in 2002 and my first international match (in 2006). So I was just going through it all in my mind.

After 18 years of service to India, the Kerala-born player nicknamed 'The Wall of India' reflected on his retirement from the sport: "I think here (at the Olympics) is the best way to say goodbye to this beautiful game. I am so proud and honoured to have played this beautiful game for the last 24 years and for my country for 20 years.

After a surprising failure to qualify for Beijing 2008, India returned to Olympic action at London 2012, where they finished in last place. From there to Paris, 12 years of significant progress followed. Eighth place in Rio 2016 and an Olympic diploma, followed by consecutive bronze medals in 2021 and 2024, marked the team’s first podium finish since winning gold at Moscow 1980.

Recognised as the best goalkeeper in the world at the FIH Hockey Stars in 2021 and 2022, Sreejesh played a pivotal role in revitalising Indian hockey. His performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he secured a bronze medal, once again underlines India’s dominance in international hockey, as the country with the most Olympic medals in the sport, including eight golds. However, while India’s hockey success seems assured for the future, Sreejesh’s chapter in this story has now come to an end.

There will be no time for regrets, said Sreejesh, "Yes, there are many, but I think when you have two Olympic medals around your neck, there is no room for regrets. People always tell me that I miss family time. But today, my two children are sitting at home cheering for me, and they are realising what I have done. They know their dad is doing something great. (Now) I think it’s time for me to take all my medals out of the cupboard, and it’s time for my children to start their journey, and I’m done, and their life begins."

"I will miss everything; it was my life," Sreejesh continued in the emotional press conference. "When I was a baby, I started playing hockey. From there, I was with the under-16 junior team, then the under-21 junior team, then the senior team. I don’t know what will happen outside this hockey world, so now I’m a baby again, returning to the real world to see what happens there," he concluded.