Teenager traces her Indian roots

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Tiara Dutta of Fiji

Though the outcome of her match against India came as a disappointment, the 14-year-old hockey player from Fiji did not lose heart. Tiara Dutta, the youngest hockey player in the ongoing Hero Hockey World League Round 2 Delhi 2013, feels she can do much better in future. “We did our best and it was just a tournament.

Winning or losing is a part of the game. We’ll do better in upcoming tournaments,” says Tiara sounding mature.
The young girl who is currently visiting India as part of the hockey team from Fiji is drawing great attention for her talent and age. She started playing at the age of five and has reached the international circuit at a tender age of 13.
“I turned 14 in January this year, and I feel honoured to represent my country in international tournaments at this age. It is a great opportunity for me and I can’t thank my family and coaches enough for their support and guidance,” says Tiara, who comes from a family of hockey players.
“Both my parents are into hockey. My brother is also a hockey player. So it was natural for me to get into hockey. Ours is a mini family of hockey players, and we have so much to discuss on the game when we sit together,” says Tiara, daughter of former national hockey rep Alison Southey. Her elder brother Leevan is in the Fiji men’s squad for the India trip.
Though under the guidance of a coach, Tiara still seeks tips from her mother. “I am very close to her and look for her support at every juncture,” says the player who is enjoying her Delhi trip with brother Leevan.
“We end up hanging out together each day. Though we are in the midst of a tournament and avoid going out much, still we managed to steal a few days to explore Delhi. It’s a beautiful city and very different from Fiji. We had a stroll in nearby markets and shopped. But sadly, we haven’t got a full day to spend in the market as yet as we prefer to devote our time to focus on the game and relax a bit,” says the player, who has become a fan of Indian curries. “I loved butter chicken and few other curries our tour guide treated us to. And the weather is just perfect to enjoy the food,” she adds.
However, Tiara is saving the rest of her plans for after the tournaments get over. “Both Leevan and I would like to explore a few more cities. And since our forefathers come from India, we are all the more interested to know about our roots here. Meanwhile, our time is devoted to the game,” she says.
Out to make a mark for herself, Tiara feels she has a long way to go. “I have just begun. I plan to do a lot better to make hockey a famous game in my country and bring Fiji to the world platform,” she ends.