{"id":283664,"date":"2025-04-16T20:24:24","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T20:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/indian-hockey-grows-younger-coach-craig-fultons-vision-for-2026-world-cup\/"},"modified":"2025-04-16T20:24:25","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T20:24:25","slug":"indian-hockey-grows-younger-coach-craig-fultons-vision-for-2026-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/indian-hockey-grows-younger-coach-craig-fultons-vision-for-2026-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian Hockey grows younger: Coach Craig Fulton\u2019s vision for 2026 World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Asian Champions Trophy gold medal was still dangling around his neck, the smile hadn\u2019t yet disappeared and he longed to be with his family. But Craig Fulton\u2019s thoughts had already turned to the Indian hockey team\u2019s next litmus test: the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n

In those raw moments, minutes after India defeated China in Tuesday\u2019s final, the mastermind of India\u2019s Paris Olympic bronze gave a sneak peek into what the immediate future will look like for his team \u2013 young, a flush of fresh faces and matches away from home. It could begin as early as late October or November, with a tour to the Netherlands and Belgium with a squad comprising players largely under 25.<\/p>\n

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The destination and age group aren\u2019t chosen on a whim. The European neighbours will be hosting the World Cup in two years and, with an eye on the championship as well as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Fulton hinted he\u2019ll pick a bunch of players who will last the full four-year cycle and beyond.<\/p>\n

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The glorious moment when #TeamIndia<\/a> seized the #ACT2024<\/a> gold \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3 \ud83c\udfc6 #SonySportsNetwork<\/a> #HockeyIndia<\/a> #INDvsCHN<\/a> #DilSeHockey<\/a> | @thehockeyindia<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/7Jue5Gkt71<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sony<\/a> Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 17, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe are just trying to open up the net a little bit (and) broaden the depth. Then we\u2019ll have another camp in 10 days\u2019 time for three weeks; another 20 players will come for that. And then hopefully we are getting a tour to Holland and Belgium with kind of an under-25 squad so we are looking forward to putting that team together,\u201d Fulton told the Asian Hockey Federation. <\/p>\n

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Until not too long ago, India\u2019s hockey ecosystem was obsessed with short-termism and the coaches planned from tournament to tournament, unsure if they\u2019d still be occupying the chair by the time the next one came along. In that backdrop, Fulton\u2019s four-year plan for the team is a refreshing change. It helps that his contract, too, has been extended till the LA Olympics.<\/p>\n

Fulton\u2019s faith in the younger players would have been further emboldened after the Asian Champions Trophy triumph. Three years ago, when Graham Reid took a young team to the same competition after the Tokyo Olympics, they could only manage to finish third.<\/p>\n

This time, a youthful Indian team won seven matches out of seven, scored more goals than any other team, conceded fewer than the rest and even when not at their best, found a way to win. Like they did during Tuesday\u2019s final.<\/p>\n

Even a lightweight tournament like this wasn\u2019t taken lightly. When India were in Paris, plotting their path to another Olympic podium, a group of 21 players were in Bangalore<\/a> preparing for the continental championship. Six of them travelled to Inner Mongolia.<\/p>\n

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Four of them were attackers, signalling the area on the field where India could see the biggest change of personnel in the build-up to the World Cup and subsequently the Olympics.<\/p>\n

Among the Paris and Tokyo Olympians, three forwards \u2013 Mandeep Singh<\/a> (29 years old), Lalit Upadhyay (30) and Gurjant Singh (29) \u2013 will be in their 30s by the time the LA Games arrive. Their form was under scanner even when heading into the Paris Olympics. Whether they will survive another four years will be a burning question.<\/p>\n

During the Asian Champions Trophy, the trio was replaced by Araijeet Singh Hundal, 20, Uttam Singh, 21, and 19-year-old Gurjot Singh, who made his international debut. Hundal, the six-foot-plus striker who brings an X-factor because of his height, and Uttam, the crafty forward from the same academy as Upadhyay and Paris medallist Raj Kumar Pal, were once again impressive every time they had the ball. For Gurjot, this was the first taste of international hockey at a senior level.<\/p>\n

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India’s Asian Champions Trophy heroes rewarded! \ud83c\udfc6\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3<\/p>\n

The victorious Indian Men’s Hockey Team gets a well-deserved bonus for their record 5th title win! Each player will receive \u20b93 lakhs, while support staff members will be awarded \u20b91.5 lakhs each.<\/p>\n

This well-deserved reward\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/cvI8avkpvx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) September 17, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

With Sukhjeet Singh and Abhishek now leading the forward line with aplomb, Fulton might be tempted to begin the transitional phase by giving the young forwards more game time ahead of big tests. A luxury he didn\u2019t have going into the Paris Olympics as he had roughly a year to prepare.<\/p>\n

The midfield, where India is brimming with talent, seems stronger than ever with a deep bench strength. Veteran Manpreet Singh has said he\u2019ll continue at least till the 2026 Asian Games \u2013 which will be held after the World Cup \u2013 before taking a call on the Olympics. Vivek Sagar Prasad, the wily centre-half, is going through a purple patch. Hardik Singh is widely seen as the team\u2019s next leader. The crafty Raj Kumar Pal has done more than enough to cement his place in the squad, and the likes of Mohammed Raheel Mouseen, the attack-minded, creative outlet, have stepped up as and when called.<\/p>\n

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The over-reliance on Harmanpreet Singh for penalty corner goals and creation of chances through long balls \u2013 either grounded passes or aerials \u2013 continues to remain a red flag. The back-line, overall, remains iffy and error-prone but the emergence of Amir Ali as a calm-headed defender will give Fulton an additional option. <\/p>\n

How the coach handles the transition phase will be critical in determining the future of this team. During the Tokyo to Paris cycle, India had the luxury of retaining the core of the team. That will not be the case this time.<\/p>\n

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#Hockey<\/a> #AsianChampionsTrophy<\/a> <\/p>\n

India head coach Craig Fulton is looking forward to some family time after a hectic period that saw India win Paris 2024 bronze and ACT title. <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfd\ufe0f Asian Hockey Federation pic.twitter.com\/QK1EgJ8xty<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Express Sports (@IExpressSports) September 17, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Fulton said the Asian Champions Trophy was the \u2018first step\u2019 in the new cycle and hinted at an infusion of new faces.<\/p>\n