The second the emcee introduced Amit Rohidas’ identify, the group went berserk. The loud roar grew to become ear-splitting when the 29-year-old hammered in India’s first aim of the World Cup within the opener towards Spain on Friday night.
It was a particular second for Rohidas. Not solely did that strike assist the hosts win 2-0, it got here in a city that has fairly actually bred him. The hockey participant was solely 11 when he left his household in Saunamara village of Sundergarh district to calm down on the State Sports activities Hostel in Panposh — part of Rourkela — to be taught the methods of the commerce. The hostel is simply 2km from the brand new 20,000-seater Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium – one of many two venues of the World Cup together with Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.
“It’s a feeling I can not describe. That is my second World Cup at house. I already performed in Bhubaneswar 2018. I’m feeling very proud. I’ve spent my childhood proper right here, my hostel was proper there,” stated Rohidas, vice-captain of the Indian group
“I really feel very pleased and proud to play in entrance of the hostel the place I grew up, the place I learnt all the pieces. Enjoying in entrance of my very own individuals, in my very own district is a particular feeling.”
Sundergarh district has produced a number of India internationals with Saunamara village itself churning out the likes of former India skipper Dilip Tirkey, Subhadra Pradhan, Bikash Toppo, Dipsan Tirkey and Rohidas himself.
“My father used to play when he was younger. My elder brother too performed in native tournaments however he didn’t get chosen for the sports activities hostel. I adopted of their footsteps. Now, my brother’s one-year-old son has already began holding a small hockey stick I gifted him,” stated Rohidas, who made his India debut in 2013.
Throughout his childhood, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist lived in a mud home which had no electrical energy or water provide. Although passionate in regards to the sport, his household couldn’t afford a stick which led him to make a stick out of bamboo and play along with his pals.
“Cash was a giant subject again then. My farmer dad and mom needed to wrestle rather a lot to make me play. We labored on another person’s land. My father even went to Goa and Gujarat to work with a purpose to assist my profession. I obtained my first correct stick solely once I joined the hostel in 2004,” stated Rohidas, remembering his father Gopal who handed away two years again.
“With God’s grace, all the pieces is okay in my household now. There isn’t any monetary drawback. Hockey has given me all the pieces. We broke the mud home and constructed a superb one on that spot itself,” he stated.
Not simply his household and kinfolk, even his neighbours got here to see the son of the soil play on Friday night time and can accomplish that once more as India face England within the second Pool D match on Sunday.
First rusher
It was in Panposh that Rohidas began to brush his expertise to lastly enter the junior nationwide setup in 2011 earlier than making his senior India debut on the 2013 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
Together with creating his stickwork, Rohidas obtained concerned in a task that has made him not simply one of the best in India however maybe the world. Ever since he made his debut, Rohidas has acted as a primary rusher or runner, along with his legs getting hammered day-in, day-out.
Rushers, because the identify suggests, run in the direction of the drag-flicker throughout penalty corners (PC) to try to block the ball. The sooner and the extra aggressive the rusher, the lesser is the angle for the PC specialist to use. The final decade has put the duty of defending in PCs on the rushers greater than goalkeepers.
“Speeding is likely one of the foremost the reason why Rohidas is within the group. He is likely one of the finest on the planet for positive,” says former India analytical coach and Australian drag-flick legend Chris Ciriello.
Speeding is to Rohidas what fielding was to Jonty Rhodes, one thing the South African cricketer has admitted many instances.
“Solely those that have dum (braveness) can do that job. It’s God’s reward to me. I’ve been doing it for thus a few years that now I’ve the arrogance to do it on a regular basis. Earlier it was simply bravado however later I learnt the strategies too. Like the best way to tempo my run, the path, if I come out quick the best way to counter the flick, if I’m going gradual then what to do. I’ve the information so not scared anymore,” stated Rohidas, who’s employed with the Railways.
It’s regular for first rushers to take physique blows. The legs of a daily rusher can be stuffed with scars. But it surely doesn’t scare Rohidas.
“I’m nonetheless bettering in terms of the technicalities. After I began it was barely completely different and I used to be a bit of scared. However expertise has taught me that approach is all the pieces. If you already know the strategies, there isn’t a should be scared. Plus, the tools has improved rather a lot so there’s full security,” stated Rohidas.
“In fact, I’ve been hit and wounded many instances. However it’s important to perceive that the primary rusher can be a goalkeeper from one perspective. The injuries do ache however I’ve resilience. If I’m enjoying for my nation, there’s nothing to be fearful of. I simply give it all the pieces.”