Paris Olympics 2024: How hate gave way to love in Sreejesh-Aneeshya's two-decade-old romance

First he hated her for being better than him at school But as it happens in Bollywood movies hate was followed by love Thats how the romance between P R Sreejesh and Aneeshya unfolded at the GVN Sports School in KeralaEventually the long jumper reciprocated and accepted the future national hockey goalkeeper as her soulmateSreejesh who retired from the national team after the Paris Olympics 2024 opened up about his love story during an interaction with PTI editors on Tuesday speaking candidly about how he fell for Aneeshya He was already studying at the sports school located in Kannur when Aneeshya got admitted in 2001I was a bright student top of the class I was a superstar the teachers pet and favourite of everyone She came and suddenly I see she was better than me scoring well in everything I would score between 35 to 42 out of 50 she was getting 49 straight up 50 So I started to hate her we became enemies and thats how it was before love blossomed he saidTheir love has endured for over two decades more than 10 of them as a married coupleIf anyone needs proof they could just glance at Sreejeshs hockey sticks at the Paris Olympics 2024 her name was etched on a customised stick that the 36yearold charismatic goalkeeper used at the Games where his phenomenal 336 international caps career drew to a close with a second successive bronze medal for IndiaAneeshya who is now an Ayurveda doctor married Sreejesh in 2013 in an intimate temple ceremony where only close family and friends were presentIn a recent interaction with PTI Bhasha she had spoken about her mixed feelings on Sreejeshs international retirement While she was happy to get more time with him at home she said the sports fan in her would miss his towering presence in the Indian goalpostSreejesh revealed that when he started playing hockey his primary objective was to land a decent job which was also crucial to convince Aneeshyas parents that he was a worthy match for herin Kerala before approaching the girls father you have to be financially secure he saidNeedless to say that he won in life managing to marry the girl he loved before becoming a living legend in the sport he chose to play much like the fairytale romances that Bollywood churns out every second weekWhen I was a kid I used to love watching movies love stories he said with a mischievous grin on his face remembering the time he started living in a sports hostel just to be able to watch films whenever he wanted with his friends That was my intention to join the hostel not the sports he admittedAlso ReadVinesh Phogat and the heavy price of a 100gram disqualificationSreejesh and Aneeshya have two children son Sreeansh and daughter Anusree Their names are also etched on hockey sticks that Sreejesh used alternately in the Olympic Games matchesThey the children are like my eyes you cant have a favourite eye But you have just one heart so thats for my wife he saidIn matches I can rotate sticks and I try to use both the sticks with the names of my son and daughter My daughter likes pink whereas my son likes blue But in shootouts you dont have a choice you have to use one stick Similarly when you are married you dont have choice he quipped You have to keep everyone happySpeaking of happiness Sreejesh said he never forces his choices on his children and would never want them to feel burdened by his rich legacy eitherMy daughter said she likes swimming so I sent her for swimming and after seeing PV Sindhu she wanted to become a badminton player I said you start badminton no problemMy son wanted to become Virat Kohli but now he is not working out at all He said no dad I cant sweatif they want to pick up something I am more than happy because I dont want my name to be a burden on their shoulders In India you do have a tendency to compare children with parents I dont want to do that said the man who was widely considered the heart of the Indian teamWith agency inputs