She is the voice of Odisha at the Hockey Men’s World Cup. The crowd rises to her intonations to fill the stadium with loud cheers every time a goal is scored or with roars to pump that extra energy into the match environment and encourage the players on field.
Emcee and popular anchor Diksha Tiwari is more than just another beautiful voice. The City girl appointed as the official match time announcer for the World Cup by Hockey India has been an absolute
fan favourite and ensured that they are all pepped up and on their feet throughout the pulsating duels between teams on the turf.
Adding that bit of local charm to the international sporting event, she has resonated with the spectators and carried out the high-energy and demanding job with panache.
Anchoring success
Flashing a beautiful smile, she revealed that anchoring happened to her by chance. But, compering a mega sporting event—connecting people from all over the world with the action on the field—is
neither a coincidence nor a cake-walk. The anchor had to prove her mettle in front of the selection panel comprising experts from Hockey India.
Previous experience in anchoring sports events for the State Government was an advantage for her. Earlier in March, she acted as guide to the President of India, Ramnath Kovind, during his visit to
Bhubaneswar.
Rounding up the rehearsal
Diksha had to learn the nuances of the sport to be able to bridge the gap between players and the audience. Hockey legend Dilip Tirkey helped her understand the basics of the sport. She was also
guided by Biswa Ranjan Sarangi, who acquainted her with the game’s norms.
Besides, she had to be on a strict diet for a few months to cut down flabs. Looks do matter, but she had to brush-up her communication skills especially for the tourney.
“I was trained and taught by experts from Hockey India the appropriate pronunciation of names of each player from the 16 teams,” she shared.
She would be wearing indo-western fusion dresses for the event. She had also kept a few days reserved for flaunting the sari-look. “I wanted to connect to both people from our country and our international guests. So, I opted for fusion wear. But, I will earnestly try to promote the culture and fashion of our
country,” she added.
Ground report: High on hockey
We caught up with the anchor to bring you a glimpse of what’s happening on the field. “The spectators at the stadium are amazing. They are cheering-up the teams, irrespective of their countries. Definitely, the roar is louder for Indian team than the cheers for other countries. But, what’s more evident is their
love for the sport, Hockey,” she said.
In a country crazy for cricket and soccer, the hearts are pounding for hockey at Kalinga Stadium. Not just the heart,but the mind knows the sport too. “The crowd in Bhubaneswar knows the sport. They
haven’t gathered at the stadium out of mere curiosity or excitement. They have been following each move by the players closely. Even before the ball entered the goal-post or there was a call for penalty, the crowd is able to apprehend or predict the move and they make noise,” the anchor stated.