CUTTACK: Pankaj Sahoo , a national award-winning filigree artisan, completed one of the largest orders of his life on Tuesday. He made 275 silver filigree mementoes for the Men's Hockey World Cup, to be held in Bhubaneswar from November 28.Pankaj, 48, who lost his left palm after meeting with an accident in Cuttack in 2000, said he received the order from officials of the state cooperative handicrafts corporation.Each piece shows a miniature hockey stick with a ball and a trophy, packed in velvet-coated fibre boxes. The mementoes are made of silver filigree, which is locally known as tarakasi.The trophies have been crafted in three sizes - four inches, six inches and eight inches. They will be gifted to all 16 participating teams, their support staff, and dignitaries at the tournament."This is the biggest order of life and I am glad to be a part of the World Cup. I was helped by a team of 12 artisans," he said, adding that it took him almost a month to complete the work."I delivered 175 trophies to the government on November 3. We delivered the final lot on Tuesday," he added, but refused to disclose the amount that each piece cost.Pankaj said his handicap never prevented him from what he loved doing - making beautiful and intricate pieces out of silver. The resident of Kafla Bazar said, "Noting is impossible if one is passionate about one's work."Pankaj started his journey when he was 14. "I had an interest in filigree work since childhood. When my friends would go to play, I would learn the art from my father," he said.

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