Belgian duo Alexander Hendrickx, Arthur Van Doren sets eyes on Hockey India League
The understanding and comfort they share has played a big role in Belgium’s dominance in world hockey over years and now, as teammates at Vedanta Kalinga Lancers at the Hockey India League (HIL), the duo is keen to add the league title to an already full trophy cabinet.
They got together playing for the national youth side, got into the Belgium team at the same time and have been around for more than decade. It’s no surprise that Arthur van Doren and Alexander Hendrickx can complete each other’s sentences as smoothly as they exchange the ball on field, manning the Belgian defence.
The understanding and comfort they share has played a big role in Belgium’s dominance in world hockey over years and now, as teammates at Vedanta Kalinga Lancers at the Hockey India League (HIL), the duo is keen to add the league title to an already full trophy cabinet.
“The HIL,” they laugh in unison when asked if there is anything that’s still missing. “At this point, I think we have been lucky to win all tournaments in international hockey once. Obviously, we would love to win them again but I was here in 2017 (with UP Wizards) so it would be good to win this too,” Van Doren told The Hindu.
Hendrickx, coming for the first time, agreed. “From the stories I have heard. it’s amazing and we are curious and anxious to start and hopefully go back with the title. It will be good to have the crowd cheering for us for a change because when we play for Belgium, the crowd is cheering for attacks on us. Internationally, we would love to win again, with another generation. We are as hungry as the young guys even though we have won it all once,” he laughed.
They believe the previous edition of HIL played a big role in its success with the new edition doing the same. “If you look at all the Mandeeps and Harmanpreets, they were young kids of 16-17 when the HIL started and they burst on the scene and are big time players now. I think India have made a nice progression over the years and similar to back home, they have been working hard to create a programme that goes beyond the 18 that play the big tournament.
“That’s why Odisha is probably one of the leading places for Indian hockey — they push for an environment like this, the facilities and the push for kids from a young age. The reason the stars now are so good is because they got good facilities and trainers early. Success is always a long road, the HIL played an important role and it can only benefit the next generation now,” they insist.
The golden generation
The two are part of Belgium’s golden generation that has won everything possible – World Cup, Olympics, European Championships – and has more than one medal everywhere. But after almost 12 years with the same core group, Belgium is going through a generational shift and both agree it is only natural.
“It’s been a special journey. From 13th in the world to an Olympic gold, it’s something we look back with great fondness and pride, knowing that we have been around together for a long time. That was always one of our strong suits but nine guys quit after Paris and now you see the new generation brings a completely new vibe and is hungry to achieve something new. It’s only natural that at some point there is a little switch and a reset and us being a bit senior, we are very happy to be part of that,” Van Doren said.
“The hunger is always there but yes, after a certain age you have to work harder to stay at that level. The younger guys are faster and quicker but we have the experience to position ourselves better and now our job is to take leadership and help the guys form the team,” Hendricxx added.
The Tokyo gold remains a cherished moment for both, coming as did after a heartbreaking silver in 2016 and amidst the COVID pandemic, with van Doren still getting goosebumps talking about it.
“We were young kids and looked up to the teams playing in the Olympics. Belgium at that point was moving up the ranks but struggling to qualify so it was a faraway dream but in the end it became real. You get into the final — which you have already lost once. We had a great run before that, winning the World Cup and Euros, we believed we were unstoppable and then COVID happened and then we thought we were never going to get another opportunity. But, we did and won the most precious prize in hockey,” he reminisced.
Hendrickx, who converted the winning penalty in the final, continues to find it surreal. “To win in shootouts is a completely different celebration and to win the Olympic gold in shootouts is perhaps the most special feeling. I think we would have been ready even if the Olympics had happened a year earlier but we managed the whole situation really well even though we couldn’t train together. As I see it, you either think of it as a year more to do it all over again or a year extra to be the best. We all individually took that chance,” the 31-year old, who overcame a dangerous injury early in the tournament to end as the top-scorer at Tokyo, insisted.
The pain of Paris
To go from that high to missing the semifinals at Paris was a reality check that continues to hurt them but also makes them determined to get back to the top. “Yes it hurts deeply. It’s something that scars you a bit and it will heal but never completely go away. And that’s fine because it keeps you sharp and focussed and gets the fire burning again that maybe had died a little bit. You get comfortable in the position you are in and you are so used to people around you doing well that everybody loses a few percentages and then you end up not being 100% as a team. I think the Paris disappointment will only fuel the next generation to do well all over again,” Van Doren hoped.
Published – December 30, 2024 04:25 pm IST
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