Back in full-strength training after a difficult Pro League campaign in Europe, the Indian men’s hockey team is putting in intense preparations ahead of its upcoming tour of Australia, while keeping a sharp focus on the Asia Cup next month in Rajgir, a World Cup qualifying event.
The squad has been training in Bengaluru for the past two weeks. While the touring party for Australia has already been finalised, head coach Craig Fulton will hold trials on Friday to select his final 18 for the Asia Cup. The continental championship, besides regional pride, offers a pathway to the World Cup, making it the team’s biggest priority for the year.
“It’s going good and it’s nice to have the India A group back as well. I expect good competition and we are excited about the Asia Cup, that’s the main priority for the year,” Fulton said.
“We specifically chose Australia to tour for that reason — tougher opponents than the teams in the Asia Cup — because we want to make sure we have covered all bases. To play a top team like Australia, from a physical and a tactical point of view, it will highlight quite quickly if we are on track or not.”
The India A team also travelled to Europe recently, registering mixed results against elite sides such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and England. Fulton, however, stressed that those matches were about development rather than results.
“With the India A, it’s all about development. They are not there to win games against Holland, Belgium, and England. At the same time, we are looking at developing the next group of talented athletes, but they need good games, and they need to be tested,” he explained.
He further underlined the importance of depth-building. “We just want to create more depth because what happens now with the Under-21s? They finish the World Cup, they can’t come straight into the senior group, where do they go? This squad is for that and then it’s always really competitive. Whoever comes in is better than what’s currently going out and that’s how we are trying to manage that programme.”
Looking ahead to the Asia Cup, Fulton insisted on meticulous planning, particularly with arch-rivals Pakistan possibly in the mix. “I’m preparing for Pakistan, and that’s how we’re approaching it. The worst thing to do is not prepare, and if they arrive, then use the excuse, ‘Oh, we didn’t think they were coming,’” he said.
With Australia providing a stern test and the Asia Cup looming, India’s hockey team is determined to sharpen its edge — both for regional dominance and a place on the global stage.
