India hockey midfielder Nilakanta Sharma, 28, is known to be a quiet customer. Despite having played more than 100 internationals, he still remains one of the lesser talkers, both on and off the field. Nilakanta is the only Indian hockey player in the current squad for the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) here, who hails from Manipur. 

His home state has seen some serious violence due to ethnic tensions in the last few months. In May this year, clashes erupted in India’s north-eastern state between the Meitei people, a majority that lives in Imphal valley, and the Kuki tribe, who reside in the surrounding hills, leading to over 100 dead.