Thiruvananthapuram: A planned reception for Olympic medalist PR Sreejesh, organized by the Kerala government, has been thrown into uncertainty due to a disagreement between the State Education and Sports Departments. Sreejesh, a celebrated hockey player and the only Malayali to have won two consecutive Olympic medals, was scheduled to be honored in Thiruvananthapuram. However, the event was abruptly put on hold, leaving Sreejesh and his family, who had already arrived in the city, disappointed and uninformed about the postponement.
The conflict centers around a disagreement between State Education Minister V Sivankutty and Sports Minister V Abdurahiman. So far, Sreejesh has remained silent on the matter, and the state government has yet to announce a new date for the reception.
Officials from the Education Department have confirmed that a decision on the reception is still pending. Meanwhile, Sports Minister V Abdurahiman reassured the public that his department intends to organize a fitting tribute to Sreejesh, emphasizing that the tradition of honoring sports heroes will continue. He expressed surprise at reports of any planned reception by the Education Department, reiterating that the Sports Department has always taken the lead in welcoming athletes who bring glory to the state through National, Asian, and Olympic victories.
The situation became significant enough to warrant the intervention of the Chief Minister’s Office, which is now overseeing the resolution. The final decision regarding the reception for PR Sreejesh will be made following the Chief Minister’s directive.
