New Indian Express: With maturity beyond age, defender Dipsan settling in well with Kalinga Lancers
By Ravi Iyer
LUCKNOW: Speaking to Dipsan Tirkey feels like being in a conversation with an established international who has many years of hockey experience under his belt. But the fact is that he is just 18 years old. The maturity that he displays — whether it is on-field or on-call — belies his tender age.
Perhaps that was one of the reasons he was chosen as vice-captain of the junior India squad that went on to conquer the world last December. And Dipsan feels the hosts — who won the title after a 15-year gap — deserved it.
“We played exceptionally throughout the tournament, and it feels great to call myself a World Cup winner. It was a very well-drilled unit, and every player knew his role. We were also very familiar with one another, and that helped build camaraderie,” the player from Sanamara — a village in Odisha’s Sundergarh district — told Express on Thursday.
“Even in the final against Belgium, we knew we had to make a fast start so that we put pressure on them. And luckily, we scored two goals that really tightened the screws on them, while also giving us time to settle down and play the way we wanted.”
It was during his Hockey India League debut in the 2014 edition — he was just 16 years old then — for home team Kalinga Lancers that the defender got big-game experience. “They picked me up when I hadn’t even featured in a proper national-level event. I was very raw back then. Looking back, the fact that I got to play at such a high level with such class players helped develop me and prepare me for any kind of situation. I’m grateful to them.”
Including Dipsan, Lancers have four Odisha players in their books, and that has helped him settle as well.
“It’s obviously nice to have state-mates around. The familiarity is there, and some things just become easier. We hang out a lot, and are there during each others’ successes and failures,” the Bhubneswar Sports Hostel product felt.
Kalinga are second in the table — with 23 points — in the ongoing Season 5 of the HIL, and they are getting ready to face Uttar Pradesh Wizards at the Sports Hostel Stadium here on Friday. But despite where they are placed, Dipsan feels they have room for improvement.
“The games we lost were with big margins. That is something we need to work on. We got a bit excited, and that cost us not only in the win-loss columns, but also in goal difference. We need to make sure that we avoid such mistakes.”
Warriors win
A penalty corner strike from Punjab Warriors’ Mink van der Weerden helped the hosts to a 1-0 win over Ranchi Rays.