New Delhi: Indian men’s hockey team head coach Craig Fulton has taken full accountability for the team’s disappointing performance in the European leg of the FIH Pro League, acknowledging the failure as a wake-up call and vowing to course-correct with a strong showing at the upcoming Asia Cup in Rajgir. The tournament, scheduled from August 27 to September 7, is now India’s top priority, offering a direct route to the 2026 Men’s Hockey World Cup.
India started the Pro League campaign strong, finishing third with 15 points in the home leg in Bhubaneswar. However, the team’s performance nosedived in Europe, earning just three additional points and slumping to eighth in the nine-team table—marked by a record seven-match losing streak.
Speaking during a virtual media interaction, Fulton said, “I’ll take full responsibility for not preparing the group the way it needed to be prepped. That’s what happened, and we can’t brush it under the carpet. We have to man up and be accountable. I want to fix it—and they know they can fix it.”
India’s dismal run in Europe also ended any hopes of securing a direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup via the Pro League. Fulton admitted the defeats were frustrating, as many of the matches were winnable.
He pointed out key areas of concern such as penalty corner defence (PCD), penalty corner attack (PCA), and conceding soft goals along the baseline.
“These are small moments that make a big difference. Outletting under pressure, defending restarts—these are all fixable things, and we’ve addressed them,” Fulton added.
With the Pro League behind them, India is now fully focused on the Asia Cup in Rajgir, which not only offers a chance for redemption but also a direct entry to the 2026 FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.
“That’s our top priority this year—100%,” said Fulton. “We start camp on July 14 and will prepare right through to the tournament. We want to remain No. 1 in Asia, but we also know we need to improve from our Pro League performance. This is an exciting period for us.”
India’s struggles were compounded by the absence of captain Harmanpreet Singh, who suffered a serious finger injury during the European leg and missed four crucial games.
“He took a direct hit on the finger—it split open. Losing our captain and top drag-flicker affected us. We’ve never had to do without him for so long. That forced others to step up, which was challenging but also an opportunity to learn,” Fulton explained.
With a packed calendar ahead, managing Harmanpreet’s workload has become a priority. Fulton stressed the need to find backup drag-flickers and long-term successors.
“Harman’s not going to be around forever. While he’s still here, we need players who can support and eventually replace him. Amit Rohidas has a different skillset, Jugraj has a good flick—but replacing Harman is never easy,” he said.
As part of a long-term vision, the India A squad has embarked on a European tour, beginning with a match against Ireland in Eindhoven. The tour is designed to test emerging talent and build depth, especially with the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics in sight.
“We had a camp with around 47 players split into two squads. The idea is to strengthen our bench so we can handle the intense calendar—World Cup, then Olympic qualifiers just weeks later. It’s a massive challenge,” Fulton said.
He added that the India A team’s eight matches will be crucial in evaluating potential additions to the senior team and developing players who can complement Harmanpreet in the future.
India now enters a crucial phase in its rebuild. The Asia Cup will serve as both a litmus test and a redemption platform for Fulton and his squad. With renewed focus, an injured captain on the mend, and a depth-building program in motion, the team is determined to bounce back.
“We know where we went wrong. Now, we have a chance to put it right. The next two months are critical, and we’re ready to give it everything,” Fulton said with resolve.
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