The last stage of the Men\u2019s Hockey India League 2025\u201326 kicks off in Odisha's capital, a city that has earned a quiet reputation as the spiritual birthplace of Indian hockey. For Van Doren, this return is not only strategic but also deeply personal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cObviously, we know that the final phase will be here in Bhubaneswar, in Kalinga\u2019s home city. Bhubaneswar and Odisha in general is a hockey-loving environment. The people that come and watch here are hockey-loving people, and we are very much looking forward to playing here, especially since we are doing well,\u201d the Belgian defender said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Lancers have led the way this season, but Van Doren emphasises that the main focus is on continuous growth rather than entitlement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe started off very well in this competition and we want to improve, grow and make sure that we reach our full potential to have a chance to be successful,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is hopefully only the beginning, and this is the standard we want to push and push and push.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
If form is the foundation, then the crowd in Bhubaneswar might be the final layer. Van Doren describes the stands at Kalinga Stadium as a force that changes the game's physical rhythm.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think it gives you a boost, that\u2019s for sure. Knowing that the crowd here will be very loud, it will only help us. It makes the hard metres a little bit less hard,\u201d he said with a smile.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Later, he distilled the feeling into a single word\u2014impressive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIf there are 10,000 people in Indian stadium, specially in venues like Kalinga Stadium, it feels like 15,000. In Europe, 10,000 feels like 10 sometimes. Here, they scream for two,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yet home advantage also brings expectation, something Van Doren confronts head-on as captain. \u201cPressure is a privilege,\u201d he said. \u201cThe most important thing is to do the things that are going well for us and build on that, not look too much at outside things. Hockey is a team sport \u2014 if you have a bad day, you\u2019ve got 10 other friends there for you.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His ties to Bhubaneswar go beyond the league schedule. In 2018, it was in this city that Belgium secured their first Hockey World Cup \u2014 a moment forever embedded in his memory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s a very special environment. We won our first World Cup here with Belgium, so I\u2019m especially fond of this ground. People here really love hockey \u2014 they follow it, they know about it. As a foreign player, it makes it very nice to come here because you feel it\u2019s followed even more than maybe in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Within the Lancers\u2019 camp, Van Doren has also observed the strong hunger of Indian players, especially the younger ones who are shaping the team's future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThey are constantly busy with hockey \u2014 it\u2019s their number one priority,\u201d he said. \u201cPlayers like Deepak Pradhan and Rosan Kujur have developed a lot in one year. Rosan\u2019s understanding of when to attack, when to defend, when to accelerate, when to calm down has grown so much, and he\u2019s still far from his top.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also singled out Dilpreet Singh\u2019s artistry, stating, \u201cHe has very silky skills, which is rare in hockey nowadays.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThey are constantly busy with hockey \u2014 it\u2019s their number one priority,\u201d he said. \u201cPlayers like Deepak Pradhan and Rosan Kujur have developed a lot in one year. Rosan\u2019s understanding of when to attack, when to defend, when to accelerate, when to calm down has grown so much, and he\u2019s still far from his top.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As the league\u2019s critical stage starts, the Lancers will depend not only on points and strategies. They will embrace the noise, the vibrant atmosphere, the memory of crowded crowds, and a city that lives and breathes hockey.<\/p>\r\n\r\n