Craig Fulton was in full celebration mode on Tuesday after India won their fifth Asian Champions hockey trophy by beating China 1-0 at the Moqi Training Base in Hulunbuir.
But he also heaved a big sigh of relief as China kept the Indian players on their toes – the scoreline was 0-0 after three quarters.
Jugraj Singh broke the deadlock in the 51st minute with a cleverly-placed goal and gave India some breathing space, reported India Today. China put pressure on the Indian defence, but Harmanpreet Singh’s men held on.
“It was a tough tournament for us, but a good one in the end,” Fulton, 49, said after the match. “We had to find a way to win and that’s what we did. China put up a really good fight.”
Last month, India won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics after beating Spain 2-1 in the third-place playoff.
Fulton said that after a hectic few months, he and the players now need a break. “It has been a roller-coaster,” Fulton said. “I need a younger group, and new players to give an opportunity to.
“We need to broaden our depth. We will have another camp in 10 days and another 20 players will come for that. We are looking forward to the future and beyond. This was the first step. It’s a new-look team.”
India had an excellent Asian Champions campaign, especially during the league phase where they won all five matches. In the semi-final, they took down South Korea 4-1, after which they got the better of China in the final.
With Fulton’s next focus set on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands, the South African is geared towards building a squad that has a healthy mix of both youth and experience.
“You need experience to play in certain positions, but it’s not a prerequisite,” he explained. “You just need speed, fitness and skill because that’s the modern game at the moment.”
The formula around which Fulton aims to shape the squad is the one which worked wonderfully well in Paris.
Led by experienced defender Harmanpreet and goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh, the forward line of young talents Abhishek Nain and Sukhjeet Singh were a threat for any defence they faced. Although midfielders Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Mandeep Singh were not prolific in scoring, their level-headedness and high work rate allowed for the attackers to surge forward.
But coaching the Indian team is like skating on thin ice. Over the years, many reputed coaches have shied away from taking the job.
Australian Graham Reid was shown the door after the team’s poor showing at the 2023 World Cup. Fulton took the bold decision to step into Reid’s shoes, knowing any slip-up in Paris would put his job at risk.
Having come onboard less than three months before the Asian Games, a qualifier for the Paris Games, Fulton has done well so far.
“I think the toughest assignment was to qualify for the Olympics after being with the team for just three months,” he said. “It’s been challenging to get to know the players and their strengths. We have been able to build a lot of confidence and trust together.”
