“To qualify for Paris by winning the Asian Games is our number one priority,” was how Craig Fulton put it in his first press convention in May after taking up as Indian males’s hockey group head coach. “To be Asia No 1 is definitely one of the goals that we want to achieve and be that consistently,” he added.
The Pro League matches, an invitational occasion in Spain, and even the Asian Champions Trophy have all been main as much as Hangzhou. Winning the Asian Games gold is a matter of satisfaction, however qualifying for Paris 2024 is simply as vital.
India scored a whopping 76 objectives in 5 group stage matches on the 2018 version, defeating the likes of Japan and Korea. But the semifinal noticed them stumble towards Malaysia. The photos after the defeat should be haunting many a hockey fan nonetheless, as it could be for the likes of Manpreet Singh, who was squatting on the sphere in disbelief. His teammates round him regarded equally shell-shocked. Twice India let a lead slip, and the penalty shootout resulted in heartbreak. Then coach Harendra Singh had known as it ‘unpardonable’.
“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 1️⃣ 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖.”
🇮🇳 males’s hockey chief coach Craig Fulton provides a glimpse into their preparations and the high-flying objectives set for the nineteenth Asian Games. 🏑#AsianGames | @TheHockeyIndia | @FIH_Hockey
— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) September 22, 2023
But issues have regarded up since then. Under Graham Reid for essentially the most half, and now beneath Fulton, the Indian group is tactically disciplined and other than occasional slip-ups, have improved steadilly on their health and game-play.
On paper, India begin clear favourites simply by the advantage of being Tokyo bronze medallists and world No 3. On the sphere, their performances at ACT ought to fill them with a variety of confidence. Against Asia’s elite in Chennai, they had been usually dominant and likewise got here via a few difficult conditions. None extra so than recovering from a 1-3 deficit towards Malaysia within the ultimate.
It took a wide ranging second half comeback to prevail ultimately, however the first half would even be pointer for Fulton’s males to keep away from occurring a slippery slope in strain conditions. There had been additionally events in the course of the event when the defence conceded avoidable objectives, one thing to enhance in China.
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“In ACT, we played really good hockey and given the fact that we remained unbeaten in the tournament shows that we are heading in the right direction and we want to keep that going in upcoming tournaments,” Fulton had mentioned whereas saying the squad.
Ace drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh will as soon as once more lead the aspect, with Hardik Singh as his deputy. In PR Sreejesh, Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh, India have their backbone of 5 senior professionals who’ve seen all of it. The newer group comprising of Abhishek, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Sanjay shall be eager to depart their mark.
#TeamIndia 🇮🇳 is able to battle for glory within the nineteenth Asian Games Hangzhou 2022.
📅 twenty fourth Sept – eighth Oct 2023.
📍Hangzhou, China.
📺 Live stream on Sony LIV app and Watch Live on Sony Ten Sports Network.#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #AsianGames#HangzhouAsianGames #EnRouteToParis… pic.twitter.com/jFMGe47Xjz
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) September 22, 2023
India are positioned in Pool A, alongside Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Uzbekistan. Attention shall be on the Pakistan conflict whereas Japan will present check. Reaching semifinals ought to, as soon as once more, be simple. But then it turns into a psychological sport and there are sufficient warning indicators from the previous that this group can be taught from, to keep away from a slip-up.
For the ultimate phrase, we go away it to Sreejesh, from his interplay at Indian Express Idea Exchange. “If we compare ourselves to the rest of Asia, we are getting a lot of facilities, improving a lot, players are travelling abroad and getting special training. So expectations are getting higher. Talking about hockey, when you are going to the Asian Games, you are the favourite there and other teams want to hunt you. So you can’t drop your level.”
That, in essence, shall be India’s largest check.
🥇 Golden Dreams Loading….
Here’s the Match Schedule for pool stage of the nineteenth Asian Games Hangzhou 2022🏑
📅 twenty fourth Sept – eighth Oct 2023.
📍Hangzhou, China.
📺 Live stream on Sony LIV app and Watch Live on Sony Ten Sports Network.#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #AsianGames… pic.twitter.com/JxjfYQzuiY
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) September 22, 2023
Schedule of the Indian Men’s Hockey Team (in IST):
On 24 Sep, India vs Uzbekistan at 0845
On 26 Sep, India vs Singapore at 0630
On 28 Sep, India vs Japan at 1815
On 30 Sep, India vs Pakistan at 1815
On 2 Oct, India vs Bangladesh at 1315