New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) Following the conclusion of the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025 in Jhansi, Indian men’s hockey team chief coach Craig Fulton expressed optimism about the depth and quality of talent on display as the team begins preparations for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.
Fulton, who closely monitored the competition, highlighted the competitiveness of the matches when top teams faced each other. “When we put strength on strength, the games were very, very close,” he noted. “There’s good depth – particularly in goalkeeping and across the board -which was great to see. It was also encouraging to spot players who haven’t featured in the league before.”
Commenting on regional performances, Fulton observed that while winners Punjab stood out with a strong representation of international players, the top four teams overall demonstrated good balance and quality. “Some regions were definitely stronger than others. Punjab, for instance, stood out with the highest number of international players, which gave them an edge. At the same time, there was a healthy balance of talent across the top four teams. Beyond that, however, the depth and overall quality did dip a bit.”
With a new core group being formed for the Asia Cup cycle, Fulton emphasised that the primary focus is not on age but on finding the right players for specific roles. “It’s not about bringing in more youth – it’s about identifying the right players for the right positions,” he said.
A training camp with 54 probables is scheduled soon, from which a core group of 40 players will be selected. “We’ve been speaking about creating depth for a while now. The next 18 months are crucial in building a squad with sufficient bench strength,” Fulton explained.
The coach also shed light on his scouting criteria. “We looked at individuals, of course, but also how they operated within their team’s tactical framework. The biggest attribute we assessed was defense – both one-on-one and group defense.”
When asked about positional gaps, Fulton acknowledged a need for improvement in scoring field goals and handling various tactical scenarios. “We want players who can move the ball effectively against both man-to-man and zonal defenses, press intelligently, and outlet under pressure,” he stated.
Physicality and game intelligence were identified as non-negotiables. “Versatility isn’t the main focus – it’s more about athleticism, game awareness, and the ability to quickly adapt to new tactics,” Fulton remarked.
With PR Sreejesh being the only retirement post the Paris Olympics, Fulton confirmed that the core group will remain largely intact, with the focus now on adding strategic depth to sustain performance through the Asia Cup and beyond.
–IANS
hs/ab
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by BhaskarLive.in and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of BhaskarLive.in We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, BhaskarLive.in takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
