Greater inspiration among players for Asian Games and Olympics: Craig Fulton

Craig Fulton, the head coach of the Indian men's hockey team, has discussed in detail the experiences of the year 2026 and the path toward the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics 2028. In a conversation with Sportstar, Fulton stated that while the beginning of the year was challenging, the team ended it on a positive note by winning two significant titles.

The year 2026 was a period of ups and downs for the Indian team. At the start of the year, India finished eighth in the FIH Pro League, followed by an eighth-place finish in the World Cup. However, after this disappointing start, the team recovered quickly and maintained its continental dominance by winning the Asian Games held in Japan and the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) hosted in its own country. Due to this success in the Asian Games, India has successfully booked its place for the Los Angeles Olympics 2028.

Speaking about the World Cup experience, Fulton mentioned that the tournament was very difficult. He noted that during certain stages of the game, results depended on very fine margins. He added that in both cases—those top teams that failed to reach the semi-finals and those that did—the outcomes of big matches were altered due to these small differences.

Regarding the Asian Games campaign, Fulton said it was very positive that the team returned to the right track after the World Cup. Mentioning the semi-final match against Pakistan, he stated that initially, all the momentum was in India's favour and the team had dominated the pool stage. He clarified that while playing against Pakistan in the Pro League is merely a battle of pride, the situation changes completely in an Asian Games semi-final when it involves reaching the final and securing an Olympic qualification. Fulton expressed happiness that the team performed well in the second half of the match and found a way to win. About the final match, he said that crucial matches between India and Pakistan are always difficult, but the right players were on the field at the right time and they succeeded in implementing the strategy.

On the technical and management evaluation of the team's performance and results, Fulton raised an important point that the support and incentive received for the Asian Games are entirely different. He stated that players from states who participate in the Asian Games are highly motivated financially because this tournament is directly linked to the Olympics. Players know that if they win a gold medal and qualify, they will receive a definite financial reward. Due to this reward system, the focus and concentration of the players increase significantly. According to Fulton, when players who perform well in the Junior Olympics and Asian Games are sent to the Olympics, they receive large rewards from the states, which is a matter of great pride for the players.

Additionally, speaking about the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) held in Punjab, he said that this tournament was a huge incentive for the players. Since no international hockey match had been held in Punjab for the last 15 years, it was a great excitement for the players to play in front of their friends, family, states, and academies.

Currently, Craig Fulton is in Bengaluru, preparing for the test series starting next week in New Zealand. For this series, he is preparing a team consisting of some inexperienced international players and junior players. In the conversation with Sportstar, Fulton discussed key takeaways of the year, shifting motivations during a busy calendar, the road to the Los Angeles Olympics, managing player transitions, and the players' adaptation to the new kit colour.