When it comes to making champions or parties that win titles, Paddy Upton gets used to achieving the best results. It all began in 2011, when the coach of mental conditioning was part of the BACKROOM staff together with Gary Kirsten and supervised the Indian incredible triumph of the World Championship at home – victory that was about demonstrating resistance in the mind.
Then came the Paris Olympics in 2024, where he played its role in the Indian men’s hockey team bronze medals. Later that year, Helped young D. Gukesh to create history become the youngest world champion of chess.
Now Upton is back with Craig Fulton and his party in an effort to make them champions in Asia, with a larger image. The victory in the Asia Cup would consolidate Indian qualifications to the World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands next year – Indian hockey fans attached great hopes.
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Upton started connection with the Indian hockey team in 2023, immediately after their disastrous campaign at the World Championship. After Coach Graham Reid identified the need for an expert in mental fitness and the Fulton was quickly casting in his compatriot.
The results soon followed with a bronze medal in Paris. At the beginning of this year, India encountered bad for the league, where many defeats have derailed a large part of the momentum built in the last few seasons.
Now Upton is back with the Asia Cup team and the change was obvious. India wins victory against China and Japan Before sending Kazakhstan with ease in the pool phase.
Today, India has caught up with a 56 -year -old mental condition expert, stating that the current party is in the transition. Upton feels that the team is still looking for their feet as a unit, especially when it comes to building a connection, and its role is to help lead this phase.
“I think this team is slightly different from the team I worked to the Olympics. There’s one or two older players with a lot of caps.
He must find his legs, both as a team, a connection between themselves. So at the moment it is help with the phase of the building, creating a new team, how to really struggle with team culture, a team environment. And the players who have just arrived are to help them handle their minds a little and start discussing the concepts of distraction and mental coaching, ”Upton said.
Focus on the process, not the results
For younger players in the system are dispersed everywhere. After the debacle for League, many began to ask if India would fall again and lack the qualification of the World Cup. Upton started his work with the Indian Male Hockey team in 2023 (with permission: hockey india)
Upton said its focus is always on processes than the results. They believe that while the teams have to culminate in large tournaments, smaller events are about laying foundations.
“So it is a big thing for me to focus on this process and I know it’s the same with the coaches. What are the types of strategies that we need to follow, what is the kind of training, preparation, strategies, how well do we connect as players?
“It’s really about the process unlike the results.
“In other tournaments, it is a building, laying a foundation, testing of various combinations. So we were quite happy that we apparently got results from Chinese and Japanese games and were not very concerned. We know we didn’t play the best.
“Indian hockey team is like 18 virat kohlis”
Asked what it is like to work with this group, Upton admitted that he was still learning about hockey, but he said he was already in respect of the physical level of players and field skills.
“I think one of the big things is that I don’t know much about hockey, so for me it’s really a steep curve of learning. I’m fascinated to learn about the game. Personally, it’s just the second time I worked in hockey, I don’t understand why hockey is more popular.
The speed of the game is remarkable. The amount of preparation and training that these players put in it. Being able to go for 60 minutes at speed and intensity they are going is really a real high -performance sport and this team is super fit, they are very detailed, they are incredibly qualified, ”Upton said.
The South African added that the team was holding it on its feet and forcing it to learn more about a sport that requires perfect coordination, unlike cricket where individuals can often bear the day.
“It’s just so amazing to be part of such a high -performance team. I learn a lot. I understand the psychology of hockey where you know it’s a team sport. The cricket is a team sport, but it’s more individual. Hockey, you have to connect.
For example, players have to connect perfectly in the flow so that they can get the ball to the back of the net. So there is a lot to learn and the language barrier. It is always a challenge for me to get into my message if not everyone is so smooth in English. Unfortunately I am not fluent in Hindi, so it keeps me on my feet, ”Upton said.
When comparing the hockey page with the Indian cricket team, Upton pointed out at the level of fitness and said that only Virt Kohli managed to cope with the requirements for the training of the hockey group.
“You can’t even compare two teams. I wouldn’t even start comparing them. It’s just a completely different sport. What I would like to do is bring the Indian cricket team to come and make half of the hockey team training, and I think you’ll see that the cricket team is lying on the floor.
The only person who lasts more than half training would be Virat Kohli, I think. So that’s the massive difference I noticed. These boys are 18 Virat Kohli from the point of view of fitness, where only 1 Virat Kohli is in the cricket team, ”said Upton.
“India has what is needed to win the World Championship, the Olympic Golden Double”
Coach Fulton recently spoke about his dream to win the World Cup and Olympic gold with this team, the Upton vision believes it is realistic. He appreciated the long -term planning and strategy of his countryman. Upton appreciated the Fultona for his long -term vision with the team (with kind permission: hockey india)
“Yes, this team has what it means. The coach also has a long -term look, which is great. I think it is important for the coach to have it. Craig is one of the smartest coaches I have ever encountered his planning, strategy and long -term thinking.”
The mental condition coach further said that in terms of skills and depth, Indian hockey has ingredients to reach twice.
“In this tournament, of course, it is good to qualify for the World Championship and then introduce all the building blocks, but this team is fit enough.
There are plenty of skills and depth in Indian hockey and certainly have coaching staff and leadership. They have everything they need to be able to win world cups and Olympic gold, and it’s just the case of excellent assembly.
Because there is also a reality, there are also 4 or 5 other teams in the world, which also have all the ingredients, and it is the case who will best put it in these big tournaments and key moments in these events, and we will focus on it, ”Upton said.
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Published on:
3 September 2025
