Laxman Karan holds family torch aloft

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Hockey player B. Laxman Karan has dyed his hair brown to look different on the field. Karan had been in such stellar form for Central Excise in the CHA league that he needed no colour correction on his head to stand out.

The forward was the heart of his team in open play as well as penalty corners. His goals and assists helped Excise finish a creditable fourth in the CHA super six.

Karan, 24, is quick and strong. He can also entrance fans with his dribbling and dodging because hockey is in his blood. Karan’s father is V. Baskaran, captain of India’s gold medal winning team at the 1980 Olympics. Baskaran’s four brothers, too, were competent hockey players.

Karan didn’t take up hockey seriously until he was 18. He played cricket — which has long replaced hockey as the country’s premier sport — in his younger days.

But his family’s passion won him over in the end. Maybe he wasn’t cut out for cricket. Hockey embraced him with open arms when he returned to his roots.

“I used to play hockey for my school teams. I never lost touch with the game, even though I wanted to make it big in cricket.

I could have done better in hockey had I pursued it with more vigour. But I have no regrets now. I want to live in the present,” Karan said.

The dashing forward was in the mood against Southern Railway, his former team, in Excise’s final match in the super six on Monday.

His commitment came to the fore when he crashed into the sideboards, chasing a ball not far off from the centre line. Even though it wasn’t a goal-scoring move, Karan gave his all to gain possession.

Karan had almost got into Southern Railway before he joined Excise. K. Shanmugam, Excise coach, is grateful that the forward joined his team. “Karan is an asset.

He has the speed and stamina required for modern hockey. More important, he is industrious. He has gelled well with our team after some teething trouble. I like his commitment on the field. With a little more maturity, he can offer us more,” he said.

R. Mani, a senior player with Excise, said Karan is a team player. “Forwards tend to be individualistic but Karan puts team above self. He is on course to become an effective all-round player,” he added.

Karan loves taking up responsibilities. “I owe a lot to my coaches and teammates at Excise for helping me feel wanted. I’m duty bound to give my best for Excise whenever I enter the field. I look at expectations as opportunities,” he said.

The forward has already attended a senior India camp. The dream of sealing a place in the national team is his driving force.

“I believe I have the talent to play for India. It is not going to be easy, as the competition is fierce. My mantra is to keep working hard. Proficiency in all departments of the game is crucial in modern hockey,” he said.

Is being the son of Baskaran an albatross around his neck? “It is inevitable that my father’s name will pop up in discussions all the time.

His career motivates me, rather than heaping pressure on me,” Karan said. “My father is a great source of encouragement.

At the same time, he doesn’t hesitate to point out my mistakes. He is not easily satisfied; he has set the bar high for me.”