“It’s a relief in a sense because we were on the road for 2 months and it’s nice to leave, be champions.”
That was the words of Indian coach Craig Fulton right after Asia Cup 2025 Final victory in Rajgir on Sunday 7th September. You can’t blame the coach for felt a relieved-side side lasted on a roller coaster in 2025 after a fertile period of last year. India won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and then continued his claim to the title of Asian Champions.
But 2025 turned into a main control of reality. India entered the European leg Hockey for League, which sat third in the ranking, but lost seven of her eight games against Australia, the Netherlands, Argentina and Belgium. This run saw them ended with the seventh and lost a chance for direct qualification of the World Cup.
That meant that the Asian Cup was their last hope. If they failed, high -pressure qualifiers awaited. Criticism of Fulton’s tactics and inconsistency of India after an opening against China. Despite the victory of 4-3, Rust was visible in the Indian game and the heavy dependence on Captain Harmanpreet Singh to score goals was obvious.
The victory against Japan and Kazakhstan gave the side momentum aiming at the Super 4S. But then came a draw with Korea, where India lacked consistency and even could not perform basic games.
The answer was strong. India has clicked the tournament in the last three matches and presented why they are still the best in Asia and eventually ensure the title.
It was hard to earn, but this transitional party again showed why it is one of the best teams in world hockey.
The thinking of champions
For any team to succeed in tournaments like this, it depends on thinking as well as skills. Coach Mental Paddy Upton During the tournament, he said he believed that the group had in them to get the main trophies such as the World Cup and the Olympics.
Vice-Capital Hardik Singh repeated this faith after the finals and said that thinking from the beginning was to control Asia and secure the passage of the World Cup. He also pointed out how the team managed to find a finishing in the last stages, which turned out to be crucial.
“Our thinking was that we must be entitled to the World Championship and we have to dominate in Asia, so it was our message before this tournament.”
“And the way the team played, after the match against Korea, who was a draw, we made sure that this time a completed touch that was missing in this match would be completed. And as we could, I knew we could beat any team here, but our finals had to be good and worked on it.
The hardship also emphasized the presence of more leaders in a group that helped the team cross the finish line. Former Captain Manpreet Singh, still one of the best players in world hockey, although he plays over 400 matches, continues to set up a tone. Add the experience of Amit Rohidas and Harmanpreet and the core of the line is strong.
“I think there are many seniors in this team, there are many juniors, and also boys who have been there for eight years. The combination is quite good. And as I said earlier, we need five or six captains in each match. Only one captain will not be enough.
We need five to six boys who brought their game and increased the standard of the game. And I think we dominated a lot in the Asia Cup and from there we sent good news that we are dominant in Asia. Whatever our combat period it was before, but I think this victory is the best feeling right now, ”said Hardik.
When switching with the eye to the future
One of the significant features of this Asia Cup campaign was how young people raised. Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh and Sanjay may already have international experience, but remain on the younger side – entrusted with the exchange of large names.
Retirement retirement Sreejesh and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay after the Olympics left the main holes in terms of quality and leadership. The goalkeeper department remains an unfinished work, but attackers like Abhishek and Sukhjeet set out to fill Lalit’s absence.
This transition will continue with the World Cup on the horizon. Captain Harmanpreet touched it after the final and said the upcoming crop would be in the mix, until next year will arrive the senior world championship.
“There is also a junior world championship and some boys are there who have already played with a team of seniors, so they will also be in the mix. So I think a good and strong team will be produced next year.
This vision is why India has created a party and to ensure a smooth path to a team of seniors.
“Sure, we are doing it all the time, so we have also established India A. So that from U21 levels can go to the team and from there they train on the same level and do the same fitness as older boys, and then the gap is not so big. So, yeah, it works nicely.
It’s time to prepare for Belgium and the Netherlands
Will India start at the 2026 World Championship? Maybe not. Captain HarmanPreet as he asked, smiled and said
“We’ll rest now and then look at it.”
The rest deserves after a long season, when hockey India restarted and at the beginning of this year the league was pressed.
Another is Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in November, where Belgium and Germany will be part of the competition – the proper prelude of the World Championship. Then the team will go through the next season for League and hockey India before the big event.
The key focus during this period will be to find the right combinations and systems with this young team. The Asian Cup showed signs of progress: India took time to settled, but culminated at the right moment. Game management improved in the decisive matches and the scoring load spread over the forward and midfielders, which facilitated HarmanPreet.
These are building blocks that India transmits to its next phase. When he logs off from Rajgir as Asian champions, the focus shifts to new goals. Fulton spoke about his Dream of the World Championship in the Olympic Golden. For this reason, this temporary team must still increase their game to remain among the world elite.
– ends
Published on:
September 8, 2025
