"The silence at Kalinga was unbelievable" - Epic WC moment etched in memory, Lars Balk all set to showcase talent in Hockey India League [Exclusive]
Lars Balk is more than excited as he looks forward to playing in the Hockey India League where he will represent the Lucknow-based UP Rudras team. India has been a happy hunting ground for the Dutchman and the Netherlands, who finished on the podium in two successive World Cups hosted in the country.
The stupendous run for the Dutch players culminated in a gold-medal win in Paris but the defender from Utrecht chose to pick an unforgettable moment from Odisha 2018 as one that is etched in his memory to this day.
During the course of an intense and exclusive interaction with Sportskeeda, Lars Balk lauded the Indian players for their technique and agility while also referring to India as a hockey-crazy country.
Back in 2018, the Indians were on the cusp of history, hoping to qualify for a World Cup semifinal after a gap of 43 years. In their path, in the quarterfinal, were Max Caldas' Men in Orange which made for an electric atmosphere in Bhubaneswar's iconic Kalinga Stadium.
A noisy and exuberant crowd erupted with exultation when Akashdeep Singh gave India the lead in the opening quarter. The uproarious Indian spectators were, however, silenced when Thierry Brinkman found the back of the Indian net in the 15th minute.
The dull thud of the ball striking the Indian goal was followed by an eerie hush in and around the packed stands even as the Dutch players celebrated the equalizer. Lars Balk remembers the goal well, so much so that the veteran defender chose to rank the moment as the topmost in his unforgettable list.
"I remember that moment. The silence in the stadium was unbelievable. The kind of silence there was in the stadium, I never heard anything like that before. So, that was a special moment indeed," Lars Balk recalled.
Balk also apologized to Indian supporters, adding a tinge of good humor to the conversation.
"Sorry for that," he said with a laugh. "But we won the game and we made it to the semis, but the moment we made it 1-1 was unbelievable. The silence there was, wow."
The Dutch broke Indian hearts by winning the quarterfinal 2-1 before upsetting mighty Australia in the semifinal en route to a silver-medal win in Bhubaneswar. Under the tutelage of Jeroen Delmee, the Dutch won a bronze in the 2023 World Cup hosted in India before clinching the gold medal in men's hockey at Paris 2024.
"After that, I think the World Cup 2023, the first time we won a medal with Jeroen, so that was special. And of course, my biggest achievement last summer was Olympic gold," said Balk, looking back at an impressive career. "I would give all the credit to coach Jeroen (Delmee). He has a great staff behind him as well."
The 28-year-old also scored a goal in impressive fashion for his side against Canada during the 2018 World Cup. For a player who hasn't scored that many, the opening goal against the Canadians in Odisha meant a lot.
"While playing for the Netherlands, I guess I scored a total of 3 goals so it's not too much and therefore scoring a goal means a lot to me," Balk explained.
"Players in India are treated like how football stars are treated in the Netherlands" - Lars Balk
Lars Balk is in awe of the adulation that hockey players receive in India while choosing to draw a parallel with the manner in which Dutch football stars are idolized in the Netherlands.
"I've been to India six or seven times, I think, and I played in two World Cups and and also the Pro League a few times. India is a hockey-crazy country. Players here are treated like how football stars are treated in the Netherlands, so that is special. The stadiums are crazy as well," Balk stated in a tone that did little to betray the astonishment.
Lars Balk asserted that the technique and agility of the Indian players made them special as compared to those from the other top hockey nations while also choosing Argentina and Germany as tough opponents to lock horns with.
UP Rudras' teammates Lalit Upadhyay and Hardik Singh found special mention for their exceptional talent.
"The Indians are very technical players. The agility of the players is unbelievable, as is the speed. That makes the ourfit one of the best teams in the world. There are really great players like Hardik Singh and Lalit Upadhyay in the team," Balk opined.
"For me, as a defender, they are unpredictable because one never knows what they are going to do next. The skill levels are so high that it makes it difficult for defenders. After India, Argentina and Germany are also tough opponents. The likes of Niklas Wellen and Christopher Ruhr aretough to handle," he added.
Lars Balk stressed that he is excited and eagerly looking forward to playing in the Hockey India League even as he used his characteristic good humor to describe how it felt like to be one of the most valuable defenders in the competition.
"That also means a lot of pressure right (with a laugh)," he quipped. "Yeah, I am really excited and looking forward to playing in India again."
UP Rudras' overseas defenders comprise Lars Balk, Kane Russell of New Zealand and Marc Recasens of Spain while seasoned campaigner Surender Kumar will also guard the backlines for the Lucknow side.
Paul van Ass, who guided the indomitable Dutch women to victory in the Paris Olympics, will coach the UP Rudras side while ace midfielder Hardik Singh will lead the team.