When the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers step onto the turf at the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium this Saturday, they will not only defend their position at the top of the table but also embrace an atmosphere their captain, Arthur Van Doren, describes as “unlike any other in world hockey.”
The final leg of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2025–26 begins in Odisha’s capital, a city that has earned the reputation of being Indian hockey’s spiritual home. For Van Doren, the return is both strategic and deeply personal.
“Bhubaneswar and Odisha in general is a hockey-loving environment. The people here are passionate, and we are very much looking forward to playing in front of them, especially since we are doing well,” the Belgian defender said.
The Lancers have set the pace this season, but Van Doren insists the team’s focus remains on evolution. “We started off very well in this competition and we want to improve, grow and reach our full potential. This is hopefully only the beginning, and this is the standard we want to push and push and push,” he explained.
Van Doren believes the Bhubaneswar crowd transforms the rhythm of the game. “It gives you a boost, that’s for sure. Knowing that the crowd here will be very loud, it makes the hard metres a little bit less hard,” he said with a smile.
He added, “If there are 10,000 people in Indian stadiums, especially at Kalinga, it feels like 15,000. In Europe, 10,000 feels like 10 sometimes. Here, they scream for two.”
Acknowledging the weight of expectation, Van Doren remarked: “Pressure is a privilege. The most important thing is to build on what’s working for us and not look too much at outside things. Hockey is a team sport — if you have a bad day, you’ve got 10 other friends there for you.”
Van Doren’s bond with the city runs deep. It was here in 2018 that Belgium lifted their first Hockey World Cup. “For me, it’s a very special environment. We won our first World Cup here, so I’m especially fond of this ground. People here really love hockey — they follow it, they know about it. As a foreign player, it makes it very nice to come here,” he recalled.
Inside the Lancers’ camp, Van Doren has been impressed by the hunger of Indian players. “They are constantly busy with hockey — it’s their number one priority. Players like Deepak Pradhan and Rosan Kujur have developed a lot in one year. Rosan’s understanding of when to attack, when to defend, when to accelerate, when to calm down has grown so much,” he said.
He also praised Dilpreet Singh, calling his skills “very silky, which is rare in hockey nowadays.”
Away from the game, Van Doren has embraced Odisha’s culture and cuisine. “I have always loved Indian food, and my favourite is dal makhani with roti,” he revealed.
All matches of the Hero Hockey India League will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3, and DD Sports, and live-streamed on Waves and the Hockey India League YouTube channel.
