Varanasi: From flicking around a hockey stick as a little child in Gorakhpur to scoring crucial goals in the semifinals and final of the Junior Asia Cup in Hyderabad, penalty corner specialist Diwakar Ram has come a long way. With his dominating style of play and the ability to beat the best of goalkeepers with scorching drag-flicks, this small town boy is all set to take the world of hockey by storm.

The exploits of this ‘drag terror’, who scored 10 goals in tournament, have given his family reasons to celebrate. “As a child, he was always interested in hockey and was always trying to watch as many games as possible. His flicks and scoops are simply great,” gushed Subhakar Ram, Diwakar’s younger brother.

Diwakar’s father Indrajeet Ram, who works in the mechanical department of the Railways in Gorakhpur, was encouraged by his son’s interest in the game and supported his dreams. “My wife and I used to wake up with Diwakar at dawn every morning and send him for training,” said Indrajeet, “We wanted him to be in a class of his own, and I was simply proud that my son was mastering country’s national sport.”

Diwakar was greatly influenced and motivated by his elder brother Prabhakar, who is in the Indian Air Force and is a noted hockey player himself. Indrajeet said that they always felt that Diwakar was a special talent. He moved to Sports Hostel in Lucknow when in school and later joined Indian Oil in Bangalore and made his junior international debut at the Monchengladbach eight-nation tournament in 2007. He made his senior debut this year in the ‘test’ series against Belgium. Diwakar made a mark at the Kuala Lumpur eight-nation invitation tournament earlier this year with 12 goals, and scored another four when the team won silver in the Azlan Shah Cup in May.

“Diwakar’s success is a little overwhelming for the family. Everyone keeps asking for a treat, but my salary isn’t big enough to treat everyone,” joked Indrajeet, who hails from Beni Bamhrauli village in Azamgarh district. He may not be able to celebrate his son’s successes lavishly now, but as Diwakar continues his stride ahead, his father may soon have to worry about giving bigger treats.