Barely two weeks into his new function as head coach of Indian males’s hockey workforce, South African Craig Fulton is fairly clear about his objectives — to make the facet primary in Asia and qualify for subsequent yr’s Olympics in Paris. Fulton, who witnessed the rise of Belgium hockey since 2018, desires India to first dominate Asian hockey after which progressively translating it into the world stage. “What I have in my head is to be the no.1 team in Asia. Definitely, it is one of the goals which we want to achieve and be there consistently and then push because if we are sitting on world ranking 4 and 5, you need to consistently try to reach the podium,” Fulton mentioned in his first media interplay, held just about.
“When you have built enough experience and have a game plan which suits all the individuals then you can definitely push on to get into the finals and win them.
“The precedence is to qualify for Paris Olympics by means of the Asian Games. This is our no.1 precedence. By utilizing the FIH Pro League, the four-nation in Spain after which the Asian Champions Trophy we wish to actually set us as much as be sturdy and be ready to qualify straightway,” he added.
Fulton has achieved exemplary success in his previous stints as coach. His rise to fame began with a stint as Irish men’s team head coach between 2014 to 2018 when the team qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
That was the Irish team’s first Olympic qualification in 100 years. The historic feat also won him the FIH Coach of the Year award in 2015.
Fulton also worked as assistant coach with the reigning Olympic champions Belgium en route to the gold medal in Tokyo. He was also part of the Belgian coaching staff during their 2018 World Cup win in Bhubaneswar.
The South African was candid about his assessment of the current Indian team, saying there is a gap between it and the top two or three teams in the world.
“We aren’t one of the best workforce however we’re a great workforce. We have some work to do however on the similar time we’re very tough opponent to play, not many groups like taking part in us,” Fulton said.
“But realistically the place we’re proper now, there’s a hole between us and world no.1 and a pair of groups and we have to work (to bridge the hole).” Fulton’s first assignment as India head coach will be the European leg of the FIH Pro League, beginning May 26.
India will hope to continue their winning momentum as they take on formidable Belgium and Great Britain in London, followed by matches against the Netherlands and Argentina in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
In their previous Pro League outing at home, India remained unbeaten against reigning world champions Germany and Australia which helped them top the points table.
“The backside line is that we’ve got discovered a little bit of confidence (from FIH Pro League matches in India). The group did properly, some ways modified after the World Cup which I can not remark as a result of I wasn’t there. Hats off to them to get Indian hockey up within the rankings and get a bronze in Tokyo. Unfortunately, it did not work out within the World Cup for no matter causes,” Fulton said.
“By utilizing the Pro League, the four-nation match in Spain after which the Asian Champions Trophy, we wish to actually set us as much as be sturdy and be ready to qualify straightway (for 2024 Paris Olympics).” Fulton isn’t interested in tweaking India’s structure of play much but wants the team to give more emphasis on defence while maintaining its attacking game.
“Personality clever I wish to have my defensive construction in place as a result of that is step one of attacking. If you wish to play counter-attacking model that does not allow you to. But on the similar time you may’t sit in your individual half, it’s important to press the opposition, put them beneath strain, it is advisable do each.
“I am a very forward attacking coach, I like to score goals but I also like a solid defence,” he mentioned.
He is properly conscious of the excessive strain related along with his new job however he takes it in a constructive stride.
“It goes without saying that Indian men’s team job is one of the hardest in world hockey in the sense of expectations. But the way I look at it is I expect and want to do well. I am not coming here half hearted. I am really positive to be in this position and I liked what I have seen in the team.
“I’m trying ahead to the yr forward, particularly the construct as much as the Asian Games to make that ultimate and qualify.” Fulton also revealed that he was in talks with Hockey India to avail the services of a psychologist, a demand which India captain Harmanpreet Singh also vouched for.
“I’m conscious of that and is in talks with Hockey India to get providers of a specialist in that discipline. In Belgium, it is barely completely different, they do not have psychological conditioning coach, it is extra of character testing they do. But this can be a precedence for us,” he said.
Harmanpreet said: “It could be nice to get the providers of a psychological conditioning coach because the coach (Fulton) mentioned, nevertheless it all depends upon the federation.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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