How a 73-YO Kerala Lady Inspired India’s Hockey Team During the Asian Games!

The Indian Hockey team has been on a roll. However, they ran into a barrier at the Asian Games 2018, when they were defeated by Malaysia. The loss was quite a shock, considering the team was touted to bring back a gold medal, like they did in the 2017 Asian Games, under the captainship of Sardar Singh.

Well, the team did bounce back, and defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 2-1, in the next round, and if the current team captain PR Sreejesh is to be believed, the reason was a 73-year-old Kerala flood victim, according to Times Now News.

Yes, you read that right!

Sreejesh was invited to participate in the popular show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan. Usually the show hosts regular contestants, but sportspersons and celebrities are sometimes invited to take part.

Sreejesh was on the KBC “hot seat” when Bachchan asked him about how he kept the entire hockey team motivated during tough times. Sreejesh replied that it was indeed a difficult job, and spoke of how the team’s morale was at its lowest, after the defeat mentioned above to Malaysia, in the Asian Games. The loss shattered the team’s hopes, of retaining their hockey title.

It was during this period, that Sreejesh came across a viral video, which featured a 73-year-old Kerala flood victim.

God’s Own Country was hit by floods and was reeling under the effect that nature’s wrath had unleashed, and in the video, the woman was crying, lamenting over her losses. She had lost everything that she had earned in 73 years. However, she went on to say that she is alive, and would continue to fight without giving up, and earn back whatever she had lost.

On seeing the video, Sreejesh was very inspired, and showed the video to his fellow team members, to boost their confidence. Speaking to the team, he said that there was plenty of time to lament over the loss to Malaysia, but a decision had to be made—they had to decide if it wanted to return to India with or without a medal.

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Motivated and re-energised, the men bounced back in a matter of a day, and beat Pakistan 2-1, to clinch the bronze medal.

Incidentally, the team won an amount of Rs 12,50,000, which was donated to the Kerala flood victims. Sreejesh and other members of the hockey team, as well as former Indian hockey captain Sardar Singh, were also present on the occasion.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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