Sreejesh takes time off to visit father who suffered a heart attack
INDIAN goalkeeper PR Sreejesh is feeling down after his father P. Raveendran had a heart attack last Saturday.
But he was not informed about it as he was preparing for the match against Belgium on Sunday.
The 30-year-old season campaigner felt something amiss when his father, who is his number one fan, did not phone him for a few days.
Sreejesh said that he was informed by his wife that his dad had a heart attack and was admitted to hospital in Kochi.
“I was shocked after hearing the news. I knew something was not right as my dad did not call me the last few days.
“When I called my dad he did not answer and when I called my wife, she never spoke to me properly and said that she is busy,” said Sreejesh.
“Only after the match against Belgium, my wife told me about my father’s health condition.
Sreejesh, who is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, sought permission from the team management to be with his family when his father underwent angioplasty. He flew out on Tuesday and rejoined training on Wednesday evening.
He has more than 200 international caps and has been in the Indian team since 2006. In the 2014 Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar, he was adjudged goalkeeper of the tournament.
Sreejesh also received the highest sports award “Arjuna Award” from President Pranab Mukherjee in 2015 He was also the captain of the Indian team who won the silver medal at the 2016 Champions Trophy in London.
Despite being shocked about his father’s condition, Sreejesh has vowed to help India qualify for the quarter-finals.
India started their campaign in the Group C with a resounding 5-0 win over South Africa before they held world No. 3 Belgium to a 2-2 draw.
India and Belgium both have four points each but India top the group with a better goal difference.
India need to collect maximum points against Canada tomorrow to top the group as the group winners will gain an automatic place in the quarter-finals.
India have featured in all 14 World Cups and their best ever achievement was winning the 1975 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.