Indian Men's Hockey Team's Bold New Philosophy Bears Fruit

The Indian men's hockey team, under head coach Craig Fulton, adopted a new defensive strategy that led to winning a bronze at the Paris Olympics. Despite historical weaknesses and a key defeat against Germany, the team's defense showed significant improvement, setting the stage for future success.

The Indian men's hockey team, led by head coach Craig Fulton, showcased a new defensive philosophy that culminated in a bronze medal at the Paris Olympic Games, a rewarding outcome Fulton emphasized on Wednesday.

Historically, the team's primary weakness had been its defense, with a focus predominantly on attack. However, this changed with Fulton's appointment in March last year. A highlight of this transformation was the courageous defensive performance in the quarterfinal against Britain, where the Indian team, despite being reduced to 10 men for nearly 40 minutes, held their formidable opponents to a 1-1 draw.

''I was pleased with our defense adopting a new philosophy and convincing the players to commit to it. Once they saw the results, they believed in the approach,'' Fulton told PTI.

Despite the improvement, the absence of key defender Amit Rohidas in the semifinal against high-scoring Germany led to a crucial 3-goal setback, preventing the team from reaching the final.

Fulton acknowledged the quality of the opponents, stating, ''Germany took their chances, and we didn't. But we had great results against Holland, Australia, Belgium, and Great Britain, and it ultimately paid off.''

Prior to the Olympics, a 0-5 loss to Australia in a Test series appeared discouraging, but Fulton maintained focus. ''I wasn't concerned about those results. My goal was to plan for success in the Olympics. You can lose five games; it doesn't matter,'' he explained.

The celebrations for the Olympic medal will be brief as the team prepares for the Asian Champions Trophy beginning on September 8. Reflecting on his tenure, Fulton noted the biggest challenge was setting a bold vision and reclaiming the podium at the Olympics and World Cup, highlighting the ultimate goal as the 2026 World Cup and the LA28 Olympics.

(With inputs from agencies.)