Rajgir: The Indian men’s hockey team has won their fourth consecutive title in Asia, starting with the gold at the Asian Games in 2023. The next was the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai in 2023, then the Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir, China, in 2024, and now the Asia Cup in 2025. This sheer domination is not to be taken for granted, and it is something to be proud of. However, outside Asia, it is not the same, as only a few months ago they were handed seven defeats in a row in the European leg of the Pro League. It started with a couple of defeats against the Netherlands. Then Argentina beat them twice, Australia also earned two back-to-back wins, and Belgium beat them 6-3. It was only in the last match of the tour that they won against Belgium 4-3 to cap off the tour on a winning note. This was a hard pill to digest for coach Craig Fulton, and he hopes to change it in the coming days. “I think there are two different types of hockey: Asian hockey and European hockey. All the powerhouses sit in Europe, in a way, and obviously Australia. So, we are trying to build something here so that we can have depth in what we do here and then go and challenge the other teams in Europe. That’s the honest truth, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” said the coach after India’s victory in the final here on Sunday. While this will still take some time, what is important for Fulton now is that they won the title after eight years, and he believes the tour to Australia played a huge role in helping them prepare for it. “I think Australia was really important. I knew we were still playing well in the Pro League, but just didn’t get the results. Then we came back, had a good training camp, and went to Australia, where we had good performances,” Fulton further said, before adding, “I knew we were on track, and then we just had to adapt to the heat. And then we finished strong, so it actually worked out nicely.” However, in the coming months, his big challenge will be to get the team ready for what is coming next year. After all, changes are expected to take place in the team, and Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey also hinted at it during a conversation with reporters. “If certain players cannot perform against Asian teams in home conditions, this does put a huge question mark on the players,” said the HI president. As for the coach, all he wants to do is increase the depth of the squad. “We have Azlan Shah, Hockey India League, and Pro League, and then because we have the World Cup and Asian Games three weeks apart, we want to build depth. What does that look like in the next 12 or 14 months? We still have to use a few more competitions to see what that’s like,” he added. Whatever progress is achieved, the coach will be happy to know that he has the full backing of the HI president until the Asian Games next year, and this kind of assurance will certainly help him prepare well for the coming big events with a clear mind.
Manpreet dedicates triumph to flood victims:
As the Indian men’s hockey team lifted the Asia Cup on Sunday in Rajgir, Manpreet Singh dedicated the triumph to the people of Punjab, who are currently battling devastating floods. In a statement, he said, “I would like to dedicate this victory to the people of Punjab, who are enduring the devastating floods with unimaginable strength and resilience. This triumph is for every victim fighting to rebuild their life, and for the selfless volunteers who are working day and night to rescue, support, and rehabilitate those in need.” Meanwhile, following India’s victory, Hockey India announced rewards of ₹3 lakh each for the players and ₹1.5 lakh each for the support staff.
