Ignace took revenge in style

LUCKNOW: The man who dealt out a veritable knock-out blow to Pakistan in the Asia Cup final was very happy that he made the arch-rivals pay dearly for his forehead injury. Ignace Tirkey, the half-back, had suffered a cut above his left eye in the league match against Pakistan in the just concluded Asia Cup hockey in Kuala Lumpur. He had to go out and needed three stiches to close the up the gash.But on Sunday in the final against the same rivals, the swarthy Tirkey, playing with bandage on his head, picked up a through ball from Baljit Singh Saini with less two minutes to go. A neat body swerve got him past a Pakistani defender.
With a pace or two, he entered the circle and then had a mighty slash and the ball crashed into the net, leaving Pakistani goalkeeper Ahmed Alam stunned. Then the Orissa player fell on his back and was buried under celebrating team-mates. Tirkey was in the city on Tuesday along with other members of the team. “This was my first goal against Pakistan. I am very excited as it came in the crucial stage and on the big occasion,� he smiled. “During the league match against Pakistan, I suffered the cut on my forehead. But through my goal, I managed to exact the revenge,� added the dependable half-back, who was also adjudged the man of the final. But being away from home for so long, the player is feeling homesick. Or probably he wants to share some of the moments of glory with his family.