The historic bronze medal victory by India at the Tokyo Olympics has brought about a significant transformation in the landscape of hockey within the country, serving as a source of inspiration for the younger generation, according to renowned defender Amit Rohidas. Speaking on the Hockey Te Charcha podcast series initiated by Hockey India, Rohidas expressed that numerous children in villages are eagerly anticipating the upcoming FIH Men’s World Cup, set to be jointly hosted by Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from January 13 to 29.
Rohidas highlighted the impact of the bronze medal, stating, “The bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has changed a lot of things. Youngsters who weren’t involved in hockey before are now embracing the sport in villages.” When he returns home and witnesses this positive change, he feels a sense of satisfaction. According to Rohidas, nearly every school has observed a surge in youngsters taking up hockey.
Coming from Odisha, Rohidas emphasized the emotional significance of playing the World Cup on home turf for any player. He explained, “Playing at home is a very different feeling because the crowds are very supportive and they really cheer for you and motivate you. We have Indian fans supporting us outside India as well, but in Odisha, the fans bring a different level of energy, which gives us extra motivation.”
Rohidas stressed the importance of a methodical approach leading up to the World Cup for India’s success in the tournament. He outlined the upcoming schedule, including matches in the FIH Hockey Men’s Pro League 2022-2023 in Bhubaneswar, a series in Australia, and finally, the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. He noted, “We are taking it step by step, game by game. Our training sessions are continuing with good intensity, and we are doing our best to ensure we get things right.”
Having accumulated over 100 appearances for India, Rohidas reflected on his personal development, mentioning that he has learned to manage his aggressive instincts over the years. He acknowledged, “I had an aggressive streak in myself earlier, but in the last few years, I have learned a lot from the senior players about handling pressure and ensuring that my reaction does not affect the team’s plans in a negative way. I try to keep aggression on the inside so that it doesn’t show on the field.”