Bhubaneswar: For Nilam Sanjeeb Xess, the 18-year-old fullback from Sundargarh district in Orissa, volunteering in the upcoming Hockey World League Final (HWLF) starting December 1 will be an overwhelming experience which will also allow him to watch and follow some of the top international stars from close quarters.
Nilam is not new to international hockey. He was the skipper of the India U-18 men’s team that won the Asia Cup in 2016 and was also the part of the India ‘A’ squad that participated at the Australian Hockey League in Perth few months back.
“I am very much exited to be associated as a volunteer of such a big event happening in my home state,” an elated Nilam said on the sidelines of India’s training session at the Kalinga Stadium, Saturday.
However, Nilam, who was a part of Kalinga Lancers squad last season in the Hockey India League (HIL), said, he has played with some of them in the HIL and being a part of the event someway or the other, is a big bonus for him as he will get to watch these big teams from close quarters.
Like Nilam, four other state players Binit Ekka, Ashwin Kujur, Chandrakant Barik and Ashok Lakra will be seen in action as volunteers at the event. They will be joined by Biswa Ranjan Sarangi from Bhubaneswar, who officiated as a judge at the recently concluded Men’s Asia Cup in Dhaka and national umpires Rajen Ekka and Nishan Jyoti Mohanty.
Oz to arrive Sunday
Bhubaneswar: With six days to go for the Hockey World League Final (HWLF), hockey fever rises in the city as international teams participating in the tournament will start arriving November 26 onwards. England, defending champions Australia along with third ranked Belgium are scheduled to arrive here Sunday. However, World No.1 Argentina, Germany and the Netherlands will arrive November 27 while Spain will be landing in the temple city, November 28.
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