The van Ass family and their love for India

Seve van Ass settled down right into a chair and appeared across the apply pitch of the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. “ that is my eighth go to. I actually like India,” mentioned the Dutch hockey participant.

Not simply Seve however his total household has a deep India join. His mom got here to India as an 18-year-old and has been returning ever since. His father, Paul, was India’s chief coach in 2015. Seve himself performed within the now defunct Hockey India League (HIL) for Uttar Pradesh Wizards.

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“I’ve been to India as soon as with my household as a vacationer for 3 weeks and 7 instances as a hockey skilled. That’s a variety of instances already,” laughed Seve. “It’s all the time superb to return again to India. I just like the Indian tradition. It’s manner completely different than again house.”

It was in 2013 that Seve’s mom introduced the household to India, to expertise “the color and vibe” as she had. The household spent three weeks travelling to New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Goa, Mumbai and Varanasi.

“It was throughout my preliminary years within the Dutch workforce. We had our winter break and my mom actually wished to share her expertise of India with us. She did all of the bookings. It was some time in the past however it’s nonetheless contemporary in my thoughts,” mentioned Seve, who made his debut in 2011. He has 204 worldwide caps and helped Netherlands beat Malaysia 4-0 in Pool C.

Of all of the locations he visited, Varanasi left the strongest impression on the 30-year-old. Seve was overwhelmed by the spiritualism he noticed and felt in certainly one of India’s holiest cities.

“Previous Delhi was actually spectacular, the Taj Mahal was actually lovely however for me Varanasi was an unbelievable expertise due to the traditions, the entire studying of reincarnation, life, dying and cremation and all of the rituals round it on the banks of the Ganges,” mentioned Seve.

On different visits too, he tried to squeeze in such journeys regardless of lack of time. “When you’re right here for hockey, you are both coaching or seeing a variety of the lodge. However on off days I all the time wish to exit and see as a lot as doable however will get tough,” mentioned the midfielder, who received silver on the 2014 and 2018 World Cups.

This time too earlier than coming to Rourkela he took his teammates round Bhubaneswar the place they’re getting a go well with tailor-made. “It was an ideal expertise for us. We aren’t used to that type of craftsmanship with the tailor choosing a material and making a go well with out of it. The blokes have been a bit hesitant at first however finally preferred the expertise. We are going to decide up the fits as soon as we return to Bhubaneswar. I actually just like the Indian fits (bandh gala) however not many events to put on it. It’s most likely going to hold in my closet,” he mentioned.

Whereas Paul is busy as coach of the Dutch girls’s workforce, Seve’s mom and brother will come to Bhubaneswar to see the Dutch play.

India has additionally had an impression on Seve’s food plan. He likes “naan, dal makhani and rooster curry”. “I wish to eat vegetarian meals as a lot as doable; in Holland, it’s doable however not as tasty… I don’t know the names and recipes, however they’re so tasty with a lot flavour which you don’t get in Holland.”