India are placed in Pool B with New Zealand, defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina and Ireland. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Every journey has its own challenges. From New Zealand up until we play Belgium, each match presents a unique test. Our focus is to perform consistently, adapting to the different styles of play, defensive setups, and attacking strategies of each team. Taking it one match at a time and giving our best in every game is crucial for accumulating the points needed to qualify for the quarterfinals,\" Sreejesh told JioCinema.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After the historic bronze medal finish in the Tokyo Olympics, the Indian team raised the expectations of the country in Paris. Sreejesh echoed that by saying they're focused on returning home with a medal. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"We need to have that belief in our potential to win medals. If our mindset is only about participation, we\u2019ll remain just participants. But when we start dreaming about winning a medal, that\u2019s when every player will believe in himself and the team and believe that we deserve to be on the podium. This fuels our passion and dedication, motivating us to work harder each day to become an Olympic medallist,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The veteran added their recent Europre tours will help them to acclimatise to Paris weather and turf. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Europe\u2019s weather is unpredictable. One day it\u2019s hot, the next it could rain, and then it might be cold. However, our team is quite familiar with such conditions as we frequently travel to Europe for matches against teams like Holland, Germany, Spain, and Belgium. We\u2019ve trained on all three pitches in Paris, which are fast and good,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
When asked does he feels pressure with \u2018Wall of India\u2019 tag attached to him, Sreejesh said, \"The tag is more a responsibility than pressure. It means I must minimize mistakes because any error by the goalkeeper is visible on the scoreboard. While perfection is the goal, I am human and do make mistakes. However, I have a good team to cover my mistakes. If I concede a goal, my forwards are ready to score, and my defenders always help me improve. It\u2019s a team effort where each member backs the other.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On the current mix of experienced and youngsters in the squad, he said, \"Every team I\u2019ve played with has been special. From 2012 to 2021 and now, each squad was the best at that time. What sets this team apart is the mix of 11 members from the last Olympics, who have medal-winning experience, and the newer players who have been training with us for years. This blend of experienced players and young talent will be our strength in this tournament as we need to have fresh legs to carry you throughout this tournament.\" <\/p>\r\n\r\n
When asked does he feels pressure with \u2018Wall of India\u2019 tag attached to him, Sreejesh said, \"The tag is more a responsibility than pressure. It means I must minimize mistakes because any error by the goalkeeper is visible on the scoreboard. While perfection is the goal, I am human and do make mistakes. However, I have a good team to cover my mistakes. If I concede a goal, my forwards are ready to score, and my defenders always help me improve. It\u2019s a team effort where each member backs the other.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n