Records mean nothing

Uthra Ganesan

Sunday , May 10, 2009
Towards the fag end of a demanding career — during which he earned the nickname ‘Indian wall’ — Tirkey will become the only Indian to play in four Asia Cup editions when he takes the field against arch-rivals Pakistan in their tournament opener on Sunday.

“I don’t believe that!” is his first reaction on being asked how that felt. “Only one to play four Asia Cups? Really? Are you sure no one else has done that?” he asks. Dhanraj Pillay could have managed it, but the mercurial striker and current India team manager skipped the 1993 edition in Hiroshima.

“All my life I have maintained that your work should speak for you. Now I am told about some record or the other. It feels strange,” he says.

What has he learnt in all these years? “Actually, it is only now that I feel I have the maturity of taking on complex situations, solving problems, the realisation of what needs to be done to ensure that the entire team remain focused on a single goal,” he says.

One can’t help wonder whether, at 31 and after 14 years, isn’t it late in the day? “Well, so far either there were players senior to me or at least my equals. Now there is a feeling of being the seniormost player in the side, the most experienced, and I have no problem admitting that the youngsters in the team make me feel mature,” he says.

‘Play smart, not hard’

“It’s not just about the age. During trainings and matches, I have realised the need for playing smart. Experience matters, there is no doubt about that. Ten years back even I used to think all I had to do was just go in and play hard hockey for 70 minutes. Now I feel that playing smart is more important,” Tirkey adds.

So how does he motivate himself to keep playing? “There are ways,” he says with a smile, then explains: “For one, the presence of so many youngsters — some almost 10 years younger — motivates me to try hard and keep up with them. At the same time, missing out on the Olympics last year meant we were not playing anything for more than six months. If you play constantly and mostly with the same result — losing — it forces players to go on autopilot. The long break meant everyone in the squad had a lot to prove, to others and to themselves. I am no different. Also, my ankle injury had kept me out of action even before the Olympic qualifiers. Now I have renewed desire to go all out, all over again,” he says.