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Devadyuti Das
Devadyuti Das is a senior sports editor with two decades of expertise in the media landscape. Based in New Delhi, Devadyuti has been a fixture in sports reporting since 2005, specializing in Internati ... Read More
It can be an awe-inspiring task when you are stepping into the massive shoes of someone like Indian hockey legend PR Sreejesh. It’s not for nothing that the former India hockey goalkeeper got the nickname ‘Wall of India’ after retiring from the sport with his second successive Olympics bronze medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 earlier this year.
But with Sreejesh walking into the sunset, it has come down to young Krishan Pathak to take up the mantle. The 27-year-old has been Sreejesh’s under-study for nearly six years now and will be No. 1 keeper for India in the years to come.
After successful campaign in the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 tournament last month, Pathak will be manning the post in India’s match hockey series against Germany in New Delhi on October 23 and 24 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
Krishan Pathak spoke exclusively to India.com website about the challenges of becoming No. 1 goalkeeper for his country, his hockey journey and his inspiration.
“It isn’t always the case that you can stay second throughout your career. If you aspire to play for India, you need to step up. PR Sreejesh are big shoes yes, but somewhere the experience of playing with him is coming handy for me. Personally I have been with him for 6 years, I am not feeling extra pressure and I have learnt a lot for him which is working for me,” Pathak told India.com ahead of the hockey series against Germany starting on Wednesday.
Pathak revealed a special bond with former India women’s hockey goalkeeper Yogita Bali. The keeper from Kapurthala in Punjab, called Yogita Bali as his inspirational mentor.
“I didn’t choose hockey at first, played all sports including football. When I came into hockey, senior women’s goalkeeper Yogita Bali was very helpful. I didn’t even have a goalkeeper’s kit, she helped me with practice drills. I have learnt lot of things from her as a keeper and in life,” Pathak said about Yogita Bali.
Absolutely Brilliant Saves by Krishan Pathak 👏pic.twitter.com/2bGlMn9uzB
— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) September 14, 2024
India’s No. 1 goalkeeper revealed that he started his hockey journey as a 12 year old, playing the sport with his friends. “In 2006, I was living in Kapurthala, started playing hockey with my friends and they didn’t have a goalkeeper. I was 11-12 years old and they told me to play as keeper. After one year, I got selected to Surjeet hockey academy in Punjab. When I went to hostel there, I realised what a big stage this is. Punjab is hockey’s ‘garh’, 500-600 players appeared for trials for Surjeet Academy and to be selected from those was a big thing,” Pathak recalled.
Krishan Pathak has already won an Arjuna award. He won the prestigious award in 2024 and received it from the honourable President of India. But his parents weren’t always supportive in his decision to take up the sport.
“My parents didn’t have too much knowledge of sports, no one from our family went into sports. My family discouraged me initially because buying a goalkeeper kit was too expensive for my family and difficult for them. Yogita Bali supported me and provided kit for me. After I started going to the Surjeet Academy hostel then they supported me. But initially it was difficult to convince them,” Pathak said.
The Indian goalkeeper got an impressive bid of Rs 32 lakh at the recent Hockey India League (HIL) auction, after being picked up by Kalinga Lancers. Pathak believes that the resumption of HIL will be massive boost for Indian youngsters.
“I want to thank Hockey India and the different franchises for supporting HIL. It is great opportunity for juniors like us and Indian players, I played a couple of seasons for Dabanng Mumbai, it is a different experience – interacting with different players, coaches and foreign players. It’s up to you what benefit you can take from him, it is a great platform for us,” he said.
Finally, asked about his targets with the Indian national hockey team, Pathak said, “Next target is to take it step-by-step, first matches against Germany, then HIL followed by a few tours. We can’t think too far ahead, we need to hone our performances. We’ll focus on Pro League and then look to qualify for World Cup.”
(India vs Germany hockey series will be LIVE on FanCode website and app)
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