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Fiji Time: 9:11 PM on Wednesday 19 June

/ Front page / Sport

Chip off the old block

Mereseini Marau In New Delhi India
Thursday, February 21, 2013

You can call them chip of an old block.

In this case they are chips of an old block.

Siblings Leevan and Tiara Dutta's inclusion in the national hockey teams came as no surprise to those in the hockey fratenity.

Their mum Alison Southey was a former captain of the women's national team and their dad Victor Dutta also played hockey but not at national level.

This is the first time they are travelling together to represent Fiji in international hockey.

They are popular to the Indian media.

Leevan is one of the two players in the team who played hockey overseas while Tiara who just turned 14 in January is the youngest in the team.

And it is their surnames that made the Indian media questioned if they were of Indian origin.

Leevan, who had a stint in Brisbane, attributed their love for the sport to their parents.

"I guess hockey was there at home from when we were growing up," he said.

"I started very early and my younger sister used to come and watch me play," he said.

According to him, Tiara's interest in this sport was developed after she used to tag along to all his hockey games.

Tiara agreed with her elder brother saying she had interests in other sports but not hockey.

The duo said they were grateful to represent Fiji in the land where their forefathers originated from.

"We have our roots here in India and our dad told us to ask around for it while we are here," said Leevan.

Leevan said he would be getting more information from his dad and hopefully he would return home with additional information about their roots.

Leevan said it was an honour to be given an opportunity to play against the Indians.

"The feeling is different when you come and play India here in India."

Standing at 1.8, Tiara is the tallest player in the team, she is taller than her older brother.

Tiara said being the youngest in the side, she had to step up her game.