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In the year 1985, Odisha played its ace. Over four decades down the line, the State had a golden haul in the 'bronze'. The State's sports hostel scheme met its golden moment when, after 41-years, India clinched bronze in Olympics. The public investment in sports had borne the fruits, now.
The historic win by the Indian Hockey Team in Tokyo Olympics today had a cast in bronze that is made in Odisha. The one and only one Amit Rohidas - cast in steel from the Panposh stable.
Amit is born to play hockey. A game that is hardly popular outside the scheduled tribes in Sundargarh district, he has been the first non-tribal to dribble with the stick to emerge as one of the best first rushers in the world. He proved his mettle on the Tokyo turf.
In the words of former international hockey player Mrinal Choubey, "Amit is India’s second goalkeeper, of course after the great Indian Wall - Sreejesh."
Amit earned this epithet by virtue of being the first rusher in the Indian hockey team. In hockey, the first rusher is considered a very dangerous job. And those who don the first rusher cap, are being termed as the courageous lots in the game of sticks.
What Is First Rusher In Hockey?
The players are the first ones to rush out from the four-man defence, excluding the goalkeeper, during penalty corner situations. The rushers have to run straight at the ball that’s often flicked at a speed of more than 100kmph.
A rusher’s job is to dash out from the goal-line – where he is positioned – to the top of the D (penalty circle) – from where the flick is taken – within seconds and close down the angle. Even if the reaction is slow by a fraction of a second, then it will be perilous for both the player and the team.
In Indian's exploits in Tokyo Olympics, Amit has displayed speed, agility and guts throughout the Olympic outings, and converted many powerful drag-flicks null and void. This sporting trait of Amit was on full display during the bronze hunt match between India-Germany today.
Amit's Bio
Born in 1993 at Saunamara village in Sundargarh district, Amit is the first-ever non-tribal from Odisha to represent the country at the international level. He got his first major breakthrough in 2009. Amit was given the Indian cap for the Under-18 Asia Cup held in Myanmar. He donned the senior hat as early as 2013 but had passed through a very chequered phase.
The Turning Point
It's in the 2016-17 edition of the Indian Hockey League (IHL), where playing for Kalinga Lancers, which is jointly owned by the Odisha government's IDCO and Coal India's MCL, Amit displayed his skills as the first rusher. Since then it has been no looking back for Amit.
In the words of Moritz Furste, the then captain of Kalinga Lancers, "Amit is the best first-rusher in the world." And in Tokyo Olympics, Amit proved so in capital letters.
The Sporting Lesson
Though after a lull for nearly a decade, the Naveen Patnaik government has been investing in sports in a big way, the success of Amit is being seen as the success of the government's investment policy on sports. Because had there been no Kalinga Lancers, Amit wouldn't have got a pitch to display his exploits.
In the moment of glory, policy experts see it as the right time to revisit the 1985 policy to establish sports hostels in the State. Sadly though, not a single sports hostel has been established in the State after 2001.
