KOCHI: The star of the Indian hockey team’s inaugural Asian Champions Trophy victory, goalkeeper P R Sreejesh received a rapturous reception upon his arrival at the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery, near here, on Wednesday.His parents, P Ravindran and Usha, accompanied by relatives, friends and numerous well-wishers from his native place Pallikkara, along with people’s representatives and Hockey Kerala and Kerala Hockey Association representatives accorded a warm reception as he made his way out of the airport late in the evening.MP K P Dhanapalan and MLAs Anwar Sadath and V P Sajeendran were among the political leaders who came to receive Sreejesh who made crucial saves in the final against Pakistan at Ordos in China on Sunday.Hockey India interim president Mariamma Koshy was also present on the occasion.Speaking to reporters, a visibly delighted Sreejesh said that he did not expect such a reception.“I am very happy. It is the first time in my life that I am getting such a reception,” he said. He also expressed happiness that the Union Sports Ministry had announced Rs. 1.5 lakh as cash award for each member of the Indian team after the players had rejected the Rs. 25,000 prize announced by Hockey India.Sreejesh will be given an official reception by Hockey Kerala at the Press Club in Thiruvananthapuram at 4 pm on Thursday, said Marimma Koshy. Sports Minister K B Ganeshkumar and Shashi Tharoor MP are also expected to attend, she said.
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