<p>P V Raveendran, a farmer from Erumeli in Ernakulam district, cannot contain his happiness. The sacrifices he made while his son was pursuing his passion have paid off.</p>.<p>On Sunday, his son Sreejesh P R, the goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team and former captain, made some brilliant saves to help the team enter the Olympic semifinals, beating Great Britain 3-1.</p>.<p>“We are extremely proud of him,” says an elated Raveendran.</p>.<p>“It’s not just me and our family, the entire neighbourhood is thrilled and we are all praying for the team's success in the next match,” he said.</p>.<p>Growing up, it was athletics his son was always interested in, Raveendran remembers. “Living in a village, we did not have much access to hockey. It was after he joined G V Raja Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram, in class 8, that hockey entered his life.” There was no looking back.</p>.<p>But there were several hurdles to tackle. “I am a farmer and didn’t earn much,” says Raveendran. “Those days, a goalkeeper’s kit would cost Rs 10,000 and we could not afford it. Somehow, we raised enough money, and that included selling our cow.”</p>.<p>Sreejesh's hard work has brought him where he is, Raveendran says.</p>.<p>Sreejesh’s wife Aneesha, an Ayurvedic doctor, said the top medals are just an arm’s length away and they are hoping for the best. Aneesha, who was also a long jumper and Sreejesh’s classmate, says her husband is taking every match as it comes.</p>.<p>“He’s very dedicated and likes to give the maximum at every level,” she said.</p>.<p>As India meets Belgium in the semifinal on Tuesday, the family, like the rest of India, hopes the team finishes with a silvery shine.</p>
<p>P V Raveendran, a farmer from Erumeli in Ernakulam district, cannot contain his happiness. The sacrifices he made while his son was pursuing his passion have paid off.</p>.<p>On Sunday, his son Sreejesh P R, the goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team and former captain, made some brilliant saves to help the team enter the Olympic semifinals, beating Great Britain 3-1.</p>.<p>“We are extremely proud of him,” says an elated Raveendran.</p>.<p>“It’s not just me and our family, the entire neighbourhood is thrilled and we are all praying for the team's success in the next match,” he said.</p>.<p>Growing up, it was athletics his son was always interested in, Raveendran remembers. “Living in a village, we did not have much access to hockey. It was after he joined G V Raja Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram, in class 8, that hockey entered his life.” There was no looking back.</p>.<p>But there were several hurdles to tackle. “I am a farmer and didn’t earn much,” says Raveendran. “Those days, a goalkeeper’s kit would cost Rs 10,000 and we could not afford it. Somehow, we raised enough money, and that included selling our cow.”</p>.<p>Sreejesh's hard work has brought him where he is, Raveendran says.</p>.<p>Sreejesh’s wife Aneesha, an Ayurvedic doctor, said the top medals are just an arm’s length away and they are hoping for the best. Aneesha, who was also a long jumper and Sreejesh’s classmate, says her husband is taking every match as it comes.</p>.<p>“He’s very dedicated and likes to give the maximum at every level,” she said.</p>.<p>As India meets Belgium in the semifinal on Tuesday, the family, like the rest of India, hopes the team finishes with a silvery shine.</p>
