Playing the Hockey World Cup is the ultimate dream for any youngster: Viren Rasquinha

While
the
Indian
team
carries
out
their
preparations
to
end
the
medal
drought
in
the
prestigious
event,
it’s
time
for
hockey
fans
to
relive
the
memories
from
India’s
historic
World
Cup
campaigns
through
Hockey
India’s
Flashback
Series
–
World
Cup
Special.

Through
these
series
of
articles
leading
up
to
the
marquee
event
in
Odisha,
Hockey
India
will
bring
you
thoughts,
anecdotes
and
trivia
from
Indian
Hockey
Legends
who
ruled
the
world
with
their
wizardry
and
panache.

Winner
of
the
Silver
Medal
in
the
2002
Asian
Games,
and
a
mainstay
in
the
Indian
Men’s
Hockey
Team,
the
legendary
Viren
Rasquinha,
who
was
part
of
the
2006
World
Cup
campaign,
recalls
his
memories
from
the
years
gone
by.

One
of
Indian
hockey’s
most
recognised
faces,
Viren
Rasquinha,
who
won
a
Gold
Medal
in
the
2001
Junior
World
Cup
in
Hobart,
went
on
to
live
out
his
childhood
dream
five
years
later
with
the
Indian
Men’s
Hockey
Team
at
the
2006
World
Cup
in
Mönchengladbach,
Germany.

While
donning
the
Indian
jersey
ranks
among
the
most
important
highlights
in
his
life,
Rasquinha
also
recalled
the
intense
battles
with
arch-rivals
Pakistan.

“For
any
young
kid
who
is
a
hockey
fan
like
me
to
get
the
opportunity
to
play
at
the
Olympics
or
the
World
Cup
is
the
ultimate
dream.
And
when
your
name
is
announced
as
part
of
the
squad
for
the
World
Cup,
it
meant
everything
to
me.
I
know
it
meant
so
much
to
my
parents,
to
my
dad,
especially
who’s
such
a
massive
hockey
fan
and
to
see
the
joy
that
it
gave
my
parents
and
to
feel
that
emotion
of
having
the
opportunity
to
play
at
the
World
Cup
for
your
country,
something
that
you’ve
worked
so
hard
for
so
many
years,
meant
every
everything
to
me,”
Rasquinha
said.

The
former
midfielder
was
also
part
of
the
Indian
Men’s
Hockey
Team
that
played
a
series
in
Pakistan,
and
the
2004
Men’s
Champions
Trophy
in
Lahore.
For
Rasquinha,
the
memories
will
forever
be
etched
in
his
mind.

“I
think
it
was
an
enthralling
contest
between
two
of
the
subcontinent
giants
and
there
was
so
much
tension
and
rivalry
at
that
time.
Every
single
venue
was
packed
to
the
rafters.
I
remember
there
was
so
much
security
at
the
hotels
where
the
Indian
and
Pakistan
teams
were
staying.
And
going
from
the
hotel
to
the
stadium
and
walking
into
the
national
stadium
in
Lahore
with
60,000
people
in
the
stands.
I
mean
this
was
an
unbelievable
experience
and
you
have
to
remember
that
was
an
excellent
Pakistan
team
as
well.”

Rasquinha
also
was
among
the
lucky
few
to
have
represented
India
at
a
major
tournament
on
home
turf,
when
he
played
the
Champions
Trophy
in
Chennai.

Turning
the
clock
back,
Rasquinha
said,
“Well,
there’s
no
better
feeling
than
to
play
for
India
in
a
major
tournament
in
India.
Of
course,
the
FIH
Odisha
Hockey
Men’s
Hockey
World
Cup
Bhubaneswar-Rourkela
2023
will
be
great,
and
in
Odisha,
people
love
their
hockey.
People
understand
hockey
very
deeply.
They’re
very
emotional
and
passionate
about
hockey,
so
it
is
amazing
to
play
in
that
kind
of
atmosphere.
The
crowd
will
be
really
cheering
on
the
players,
and
I
think
it
gives
a
huge
edge
to
any
team.”

‘Excited
With
the
Talent
and
Potential
of
Indian
Men’s
Hockey
Team’

A
veteran
of
many
a
close
battle
at
the
biggest
stages
of
them
all,
Rasquinha
said
he,
like
all
of
the
Indian
hockey
family,
was
delighted
when
the
Indian
Men’s
Hockey
Team
got
the
job
done
and
bagged
the
Bronze
Medal
at
the
Tokyo
Olympics
2020.

“First
of
all,
I
think
the
Indian
Men’s
Hockey
Team
gave
us
so
much
joy
at
Tokyo
Olympics
2020
by
winning
an
Olympic
medal
after
41
years.
I’m
excited
with
the
talent
and
potential
of
this
team.
I
think
they
can
do
really
well
at
the
FIH
Odisha
Hockey
Men’s
Hockey
World
Cup
Bhubaneswar-Rourkela
2023.
They
can
go
far,
go
deep
into
the
tournament.”

The
former
captain
also
had
a
word
of
advice
for
the
Indian
Men’s
Hockey
Team,
especially
the
younger
players
in
the
set-up
–
play
with
courage.

“Don’t
stress
too
much
and
have
the
courage.
It
takes
courage
to
succeed.
And
play
with
courage.
Play
as
a
team
and
fight
from
the
first
whistle
right
up
to
the
final
hooter.
You
don’t
get
too
many
opportunities
in
life
to
represent
your
country
at
the
World
Cup
and
this
is
an
immense
opportunity
for
many
players
to
become
stars
and
heroes
that
everyone
will
remember,”
he
signed
off.

(Hockey
India)