New Indian Express: Sharps’ Kalinga moment of pride

Tanmay Das

BHUBANESWAR: Hockey runs in the blood of this Sharp family from Lithgow in Australia’s New South Wales. When 20-year old Lachlan Sharp was selected to the Kookaburras’ national team after injury forced two members out last month, the family was ecstatic.Parents Richard and Tania were not initially sure if they could join their son and watch him debut but they are here and enjoying every bit of it.

“It was a proud moment for the family when Lachlan debuted for the Australia national team in the inaugural match against host India on December 1,” said Richard.

Everyone in the Sharp family has played hockey. Richard and Tania too dreamt of playing for the national team but could never make it. Younger son Lachlan made the dream come true at Kalinga Stadium here.

Lachlan started young. “In Australia, kids below four years are not allowed entry to any sporting club. But Lachlan started it with Club Ryde, Sydney at the age of three. He was an exceptionally talented kid,” Tania remembers.

The 20-year-old played his first professional match as member of the U-13 team for Australia Hockey League. Soon, he was called to NSW U-21 men’s hockey team to compete at Australian Championships in Canberra in July 2015. As the second youngest in the team, he was an attacking midfielder and striker, Richard recollects.

He has an India connection because Lachlan’s big breakthrough came when he came to India for the Hockey Junior World Cup in 2016. The team finished fourth. “Fortunately, I was born in a family where all are hockey players. The game runs in my blood and mind because I grew up in such an environment. Hockey World League (HWL) is a big international tournament to start my career for the Kookaburras,” says a proud Lachlan.

He considers the match against India in Junior Hockey World Cup semifinal as his favourite. “I played all three league round match here and enjoyed the support of all senior players,” said Lalchlan.

Richard loves India’s passion for hockey, particularly that of the spectators here. “It’s a very great stadium packed with fantastic hockey lovers. It is a dream for every player to perform in such an electrifying atmosphere,” the proud father said.