When Craig Fulton came as the head coach of the Indian men’s hockey team in 2023, the party was at the intersection. After Graham Reid led India to the historical victory of the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, his position was under control of the terrible World Championship in 2023 in Bhubaneshware and Rourke when the Indian team finished ninth in front of his home fans.
The change was inevitable and the Fulton, a man with many fresh ideas and a new system came. As a player, he took part in two Olympic Games and one World Championship and as a coach of his work with the Irish team, she attracted the eye of everyone. He was an assistant to the coach when Belgium won the 2018 World Cup, so he was expected to do a lot.
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The Fulton was able to see a massive overhaul when India continued to win the Asian Asian champions at home and then gold in the Asian games and end the nine -year -old drought. At the Olympic Games 2024, the Indian party won the bronze medal again.
The expectations were high when India went to Europe on the foot of hockey for leagues against some of the most difficult opponents. However, the team’s performance in the main tournaments hope that they could pull out some big winnings. What happened was okay, the exact opposite.
India lost seven of her eight matches during the tour and eventually lost one of her chances to reach the World Championship in 2026. Suddenly there was noise around Fulton when it became crucial for the party.
But the performance in the first game, victory 4-3 against China, was not the best, something that Fulton agreed with. Naturally, his position on his team continues to ask and what would happen if India was missing.
President Hockey India Dilip Tirkey quickly rejected the doubts about the future of the Fulton and pointed to the changes he made during his time, claiming that they were not putting any pressure on it.
“Until now, on the coach, we haven’t put any pressure. Yes, we felt there was noise around him, because a year ago we were an Olympic medal and an Asian winner of trophies and trophies and also won the gold medal at the Asian Games.
“We also know when he took over where the team was. The last world cup, we were completely exaggerated. Then we were afraid that we would not be able to play or even be on stage in Asian Games.
It was certainly music for the ears of Fulton, who spoke to us after victory in Japan, but stated that his big dream was to win the World Cup and Olympic gold with the Indian team.
“We are here to do a job. The big picture is to try to win the World Championship. We would like to win Olympic gold or the World Championship, but now we are here and we have not qualified for anything, so we just take it for one game and it was always a plan.” ”
‘Goals come’
The Indian coach would be satisfied with his party and their performance against Japan. While the score can read 3-2“The hosts of the hosts liked it a lot when Japan kept Japan under a Gauba with permanent pressure that began in advance.
“I thought 3 quarters of the game were really good. I thought the 4th quarter wasn’t our best, but the first half was really good. We printed well, sad that we couldn’t score some other goals, but yeah, it was nice to get to the front and get some goals soon,” Fulton said.
The Indian coach believes that his party can score more goals and said they will start as soon as the team connects well in the last third.
“We let it slip a little, but yeah, it will come when we, when we really join in the last third, and I think we can score some other goals. That will be a difference,” Fulton said.
The coach now wants his party to continue playing on the front leg, as well as in the Japanese game, and reward with other goals.
“I thought we were on the front leg. We were proactive and pushed and tried to dictate how and where they played, and I think we did it. But you have to reward and we didn’t do it today,” Fulton said.
India will now play Kazakhstan in its final pool and the game on Monday 1 September. With a place in the Super 4s already sealed, Fulton will know that he is one step closer to victory in Asia Cup and next year will teach a place at the World Championship.
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Published on:
September 1, 2025
