Rajgir, Bihar - Following a narrow 3-2 victory over Japan in the Hero Asia Cup 2025, Indian men's hockey team chief coach Craig Fulton expressed his dissatisfaction, despite securing a spot in the Super 4s. The win, which followed a similarly close 4-3 victory against China, has highlighted areas that need urgent improvement as the team progresses in the tournament.
India, the seventh-ranked team in the world and the top-ranked team in Asia, entered the tournament as favorites. However, the matches against China and Japan have exposed vulnerabilities, particularly in defense. Fulton acknowledged that the team "didn't play to our expectations" against China and that they "missed a few chances and conceded a few soft goals". This sentiment was echoed after the Japan game, with Fulton hinting that there is a need to keep improving.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh, who scored a brace against Japan, also emphasized the need for a stronger defense. Despite his excellent performance in converting penalty corners, he conceded that the team "could have stopped the last-minute goal". He noted that the team needs to be "sharp on the ground" and maintain a "strong defence".
One of Fulton's primary concerns is the team's inability to score field goals. Against China, all four goals came from penalty corners. While Mandeep Singh managed to score a field goal against Japan, Fulton had stressed the importance of creating more field goal opportunities before the game.
The team's performance in defending penalty corners is another area of concern. Against China, India conceded three penalty corners, which is uncharacteristic of a team traditionally strong in this area. Fulton and Amit Rohidas, a rusher, admitted the need for quick corrections.
Fulton is also aware that as the highest-ranked team in the tournament, India will face heightened intensity from every opponent. He stated that "every team is going to lift themselves to play us, and we have to manage that challenge".
Looking ahead, Fulton aims for the team to qualify for the 2026 Hockey World Cup and win the Asian Games. He believes that the team is still "building and not a finished outfit yet". He wants the team to achieve the "perfect game" in the tournament. The upcoming match against Kazakhstan will be another opportunity for India to fine-tune their game and address the areas of concern.
