Sreejesh, Manu clinch top honours at Sportstar Aces Awards

Indian hockey legend P.R. Sreejesh and shooter Manu Bhaker shine at 2025 Sportstar Aces Awards in Mumbai.

Indian hockey legend P.R. Sreejesh and ace shooter Manu Bhaker hogged the limelight in the 2025 Sportstar Aces Awards held at the Taj Mahal Palace here on Friday.

Sreejesh, who played a key role in the nation’s bronze medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, won the ‘Sportstar of the year (male)’ award.

Sreejesh received the award from Binod Mishra, Deputy Managing Director, State Bank Of India, and tennis legend Leander Paes.

Sreejesh, among the best goalkeepers India has ever produced, retired from the sport after the Paris Olympics. “It is quite hard to comprehend that I am now a former player. Everywhere I go now, people call me former player and coach. This is very new to me,” Sreejesh said .

“The Indian team’s back-to-back Olympics medals at Tokyo and Paris has given hockey a big boost. The Hockey India League has also given a great platform to young Indian players,” Sreejesh said.

“To see my face on the cover of the Sportstar magazine recently will serve as great motivation for young hockey players. It was my childhood dream to be on the cover of Sportstar magazine,” Sreejesh added.

Shooter Swapnil Kusale, who won a bronze at the Paris Games, took home the ‘Sportsman of the year’ award.