Indian men’s hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh’s tweet thanking his father is going viral online. The tweet, dedicated to his ‘hero’, is accompanied by a video showing the football star’s father getting emotional while watching India’s Olympic bronze medal-winning match. The post has got close to 70,000 likes and 12,000 re-tweets since being posted on Thursday.

“This medal is for you my achaaan ( father ) My hero, he is why I’m here,” writes Sreejesh about his father Ravindran. Sreejesh was seen climbing the goalpost soon after India defeated Germany 5-4 to grab the bronze medal

Also read: Who is Simranjeet Singh?

The 25-second video shared with the message shows Ravindran and other family members breaking down while watching the match. The father then breaks into celebrations, sending up a prayer and standing up to clap for Team India’s win. The team that 33-year -old Sreejesh was an important part of. As goalkeeper, he deflected many attempts on India’s goalpost, including the last minute vital save from a German penalty corner.

Also read: Hockey captain Rani Rampal says finishing 4th no mean feat

“It’s a rebirth. That’s it. It’s been 41 years. In 1980 we won the last medal and after that, nothing. Today when we won it, this gives a boost and gives energy to the youngsters to pick up hockey, play this game,” the Tokyo Olympics’ official website quoted Sreejesh after the win.

Born on May 8, 1988, in Kizhakkambalam village of Ernakulam district in Kerala to farmer parents, Sreejesh early sports interests were sprint, long jump and volleyball, in that order. At 12, he moved to Thiruvananthapuram. This was where his coach suggested that he take up goalkeeping. He started training in hockey and played at the Nehru Cup.

Also read: Proud! Fans as India women’s hockey team’s Olympics fairytale run ends

He made the Junior national team in 2004 and debuted with the senior team in 2006, at the South Asian Games in Colombo. Since making his senior team debut in 2006, Sreejesh had only one dream in sight — to become an Olympic medallist.

The 33-year-old is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world today. Sreejesh, speaking about his Olympics training, said that it was mentally tough for him to stay away from his family amid the COVID-19 pandemic.