After poor Pro League campaign, Indian hockey coach says ‘we are capable of beating anyone in the world’

Indian men’s hockey team head coach Craig Fulton believes his team can beat any team in the world if they stick to their plans and said the performances in the last part of the FIH Pro League have given the team confidence ahead of the World Cup and Asian Games.India finished the FIH Pro League season in eighth place with 19 points from 16 matches, finishing only above Pakistan who finished without a point.Despite the overall result, India concluded the campaign with victories over reigning world champions Germany and Olympic champions Netherlands. They also edged out world number three England in a tight fight during the European leg.Reflecting on the campaign, Fulton said the team had shown what they were capable of against the best in the world.“One of the biggest takeaways from this Pro League run has been watching the team’s confidence grow. Wins over Germany and the Netherlands plus a strong performance against England prove that if we stick to our game plan we can match and beat anyone in the world,” said Fulton.“It’s a solid stepping stone towards the World Cup and the Asian Games, but we’re still focused on improving our performance and staying consistent from quarter to quarter.”The coach also praised the team’s improvement in handling pressure during matches.“What’s even more encouraging is how much this group has matured. We stayed calm under pressure, adapted to different playing styles and won tight games. That kind of experience is exactly what we’ll need.”“The World Cup and the Asian Games will test our resilience and belief and I think we are building the right foundation for that,” Fulton said in a release from Hockey India.India’s campaign started on a difficult note during the home leg in Rourkela where they lost to Belgium and Argentina.There were signs of improvement during the Hobart leg. India started with a 0-2 defeat to Spain before drawing 2-2 with hosts Australia and 1-1 with Spain. They lost both matches in a shootout, but finished the stage with a 3–1 win over Australia after another 1–1 draw.Hobart’s games also showed improvement in defence. India have conceded only six goals in four matches, including three from penalty corners and three from field play. They also scored two field goals and converted two penalty corners.The team’s progress was more visible during the European part.In Rotterdam, India beat Germany 3-1 and Netherlands 3-2. Against two of the strongest defensive teams in world hockey, India scored nine goals in four games, including five field goals and four goals from penalty corners.The momentum continued in London where India remained unbeaten in regulation time in all four matches against Pakistan and England.Captain Harmanpreet Singh, who returned after missing the Hobart leg, said the win had boosted the team’s confidence.“Beating the top teams is always special, but more importantly, it shows that the hard work we put in as a team is paying off. We will use these positives as we prepare for the World Cup and Asian Games,” he said.Harmanpreet also highlighted the team’s overall contribution across departments.“One of the biggest positives of the is Pro League campaign was the contribution from all departments.“Our defense stayed compact, the midfield controlled the game well and our forwards created good opportunities inside the circle and scored many field goals. Covering all the bases gives us confidence, but we also know there are areas we can improve on ahead of the World Cup and Asian Games.”