Asian Champions Trophy 2023, India’s Asian Games checklist

CHENNAI: Twenty-seven players in just over two months, Chennai. Since his debut encounter as coach of India against Belgium in the Pro League on May 26, Craig Fulton has employed that many players in competitive games. More athletes have returned to the Bengaluru camp. The task for the team management in the Asian Champions Trophy over the next 10 days or so is rather straightforward. Determine the players who will captain the team throughout its two major events next year: the Asian Games and, should they qualify, the Olympics.

The team, which will play its first international game in Chennai since early 2008, has other goals as well. Paddy Upton, who will serve as the team’s mental conditioning coach and previously worked with the Indian cricket team during the 2011 World Cup, will also be watched closely. Additionally, the strategies and style of hockey that Fulton hopes to influence will receive fresh attention. From an Indian perspective, the following are some things to be on the lookout for:

It may not always be simple to accommodate the big player pool because the Indian team has been trying out a lot of individuals to fit particular roles. During the news conference on Tuesday, Fulton mentioned this topic. There are still a lot of athletes with experience. It’s not always simple to attempt and organise a game for everyone. There are at least a dozen more in Bengaluru in addition to the ones that are in Chennai this week. What is the best way for them to utilise the resources at their disposal? It seems to reason that individuals who excelled in Spain and in this country will be prioritised at the front of the queue prior to the Asian Games.

India has a history of winning games through speed, strength, and counterattacks. The South African has brought a more methodical style of play to the table, emphasising build-up, holding onto the ball, and swapping flanks. Although he’s pleased with how the first few months and matches have gone, there is still work to be done. They will benefit greatly from games against these teams, whom they will play again in less than two months in Hangzhou. “I have been here for just over 2.5 months,” he stated.

“The difficulty we face is that we will have played in four tournaments in the first 4-5 months. It’s abnormal that we have 39 players on the team right now.How is the game going (the way he wants to play it)? We are rather consistent if you evaluate us by our most recent performances, which we just had versus the Nos. 1, 3, and 7 in the world. We are moving forward in the proper way… We can still do better.