For Indian men’s hockey team coach Craig Fulton, the Asia Cup is the “flagship event” of the year, as it represents the team’s last opportunity to qualify for next year’s World Cup. After a disappointing campaign in the European leg of the Pro League, where they failed to secure qualification, India now needs to win the Asia Cup to book their spot in the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands from August 14 to 30 next year.
India will kick off their Asia Cup campaign against China on Friday.
“Putting Everything in This Tournament”
“This is our flagship event of the year, so we are putting everything into this tournament,” Fulton said in the pre-match press conference on Thursday. “We want to grow through the tournament, but at the same time, the prize is big—direct qualification—and that’s what we are after.”
If India secures qualification from the Asia Cup, it will set the foundation for a year-long program leading up to the World Cup. “We haven’t won the tournament for a while, and the objective is to be No. 1 in Asia. We will be pushing hard for the next 10 days,” added the coach.
India last won the Asia Cup in 2017 in Dhaka and finished third in the last edition.
Focus on Tactical Improvements
Fulton acknowledged the areas of improvement following India’s Pro League campaign, where they had several close matches but failed to secure victories, especially in the final quarter. “We were playing well, we just couldn’t finish in the fourth quarter. We created chances but were not as efficient with penalty corners or field goals,” said Fulton.
However, the team underwent a rigorous training camp, emphasizing tactical improvements, including strategies to create more scoring opportunities. “We’ve put a lot of focus on getting the ball into the D and being more effective in the final third,” he said. Additionally, Fulton emphasized the importance of improving the defense, as conceding goals alongside scoring didn’t help their chances in the Pro League.
Experience Over Youth for World Cup Qualification
Given the importance of the Asia Cup, Fulton opted for experience over introducing fresh faces into the squad. “We had a big squad on the Australia tour, with some younger players coming in to gain experience. The first two games were about giving opportunities to the younger players, and Games 3 and 4 were about selecting the squad for the Asia Cup,” he explained.
He added, “It would not be wise to expose younger players in such a high-stakes, qualifying tournament. Use your experience to get through, and then you will have a year to introduce younger players into the team.”
Mental Conditioning for Success
Understanding the significance of the tournament, India has once again enlisted the expertise of renowned mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton. Upton, who previously worked with the team during their build-up to the Paris Olympics, will help the players stay mentally sharp throughout the tournament.
“It’s pretty specific to connect with individual players,” said Fulton, noting that the team had a solid build-up with Upton leading into the Paris Olympics.
Image Source: Google | Image Credit: Respective Owner
