Indian hockey team vice-captain and goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh was given the Lt. Col. G.V. Raja Award for 2014-2015 by the Kerala Sports Council along with a cash reward of Rs.3 lakh here on Tuesday.
It is the highest honour for any athlete in Kerala. The award was given in a public meeting presided over by state sports minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan. It was handed over by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Sreejesh will be participating in a three-match Test series against Australia in Chhattisgarh followed by the Hockey World League (HWL) Final in Raipur.
"This is a moment of pride and joy for me to be bestowed with such an honour. I would like to thank the Kerala Sports Council for considering me worthy enough of such a high honour. I hope I can keep up the good work and prove to be a source of inspiration for the upcoming athletes in the state," Sreejesh said.
Sreejesh was also among the five nominated for the World Goalkeeper of the Year Award last season.