Sreejesh had called time on his international career after winning a second successive Olympic bronze medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 last week.

“The number 16 jersey that PR Sreejesh used will now be retired. This is for the senior team. For junior the jersey will be there for they want Sreejesh to groom the next Sreejesh,” Hockey India secretary general Bholanath Singh said.

He also announced that the affable 36-year-old, who competed for nearly two decades, will take up the role of the junior national coach.

"Sreejesh is now going to be the junior team coach and we are retiring the No. 16 jersey for the senior team. We are not retiring No. 16 for the junior team," said Singh at a felicitation function for the veteran and other members of the team.

"Sreejesh dusra Sreejesh ko paida karega in junior team (Sreejesh will groom someone like him in the junior team who will wear the No.16 jersey)," he added.

The players, who were present at the ceremony, wore identical red jerseys with Sreejesh's name on the back as a mark of respect for the veteran from Kerala.

The Paris bronze was India's 13th Olympic medal in hockey. It was also the first time since 1972 that the nation won back-to-back medals in hockey.

The charismatic goalkeeper, who became a unifying force for the team during the campaign, was rock solid in his role throughout and was deservedly given a farewell to remember.

His voice became shaky more than once as he recalled those moments, which included him sitting on the goalpost while his teammates bowed to him and being carried on the shoulders by skipper Harmanpreet Singh at the end of the bronze medal match.

(With PTI inputs)