Veteran India hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh on Monday won the prestigious World Games Athlete of the Year for his 2021 performances, becoming only the second Indian to receive the accolade.

In 2020, Indian women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal became the first Indian to win the honour for her 2019 show. Sreejesh beat competition from sport climber Alberto Ginés López of Spain and Italy’s wushu player Michele Giordano for the award.