Cricket

Interview with India hockey coach Craig Fulton Although we are not yet the greatest team in the world, we are capable of doing something exceptional.

Interview with India hockey coach Craig Fulton Although we are not yet the greatest team in the world, we are capable of doing something exceptional.

By Kajal Sharma - 18 Feb 2024 08:29 PM

Craig Fulton discusses his attempts to learn about the nation's culture, getting ready for the Olympics, why he enlisted Paddy Upton's assistance, and if he plans to visit Paris in an interview with The Indian Express.Craig Fulton, the head coach of the Indian men's hockey team, plays golf on the weekends. Every minute of the weekdays is also devoted to planning the route to the podium at the July–August Olympics in Paris.The South African, who helped Belgium and Ireland flourish, is now responsible for making sure India's growth narrative doesn't end after the team took home the bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.Fulton discusses his attempts to comprehend the nation's culture, including the caste system, in an interview with The Indian Express. He also explains why he brought in renowned sports psychologist Paddy Upton, who will travel with the team to the Olympics, altering India's playing philosophy and putting the finishing touches on Paris preparations by participating in test series in Australia and the Netherlands.We had a casual session one week after my arrival. I was interested in learning about the backgrounds and unique stories of each player. We then displayed a map, and they showed me their origins. We then began to connect the dots between the various locations of the players, and we found that there are distinct settings with isolated pockets and a large central block where most of the players are from yet speak different languages and dialects. I was forced to take this action because I was ignorant of the influences and the backgrounds of individuals involved. Gain an understanding of the caste system, including its internal workings and what it looks like. Just gathering information.

Therefore, I believe the outcome would have been different if the game (against Australia) had been played in an empty stadium. We're attempting to play faster and tougher, therefore we're interested in what happens to the players, what's required of them, and what emotional choice they make next. When we enter the opposing team's half, what happens to our expectations? It passes through the ceiling. That explains why the spectacle is so exquisite. However, how does it help you if another team works on that and you're out of control in that area? Nothing to detract from the players' abilities or the supporters' fervor.2012: India came in 12th place. August 8, 2016. So, the 12th, 8th, and 3rd are our destinations. What is everyone anticipating now? For what number of years did that take? We are currently in a twelve-year cycle. The fact that 13 or 14 members of the team that competed in the Tokyo Olympics are still with us is the only true similarity I can find between Tokyo and our current situation. As you move into a new block, you are keeping more players. However, you also compare the people in the top 3 or top 4 in the same way. They also possess more. Everyone therefore does more during the Olympic year. It's a fantastic task.In my opinion, how can one support the Indian squad without elevating them beyond the rest? They are not the greatest squad in the world right now, but they have the ability to accomplish something exceptional. We haven't arrived yet. We are aware of who and where we are. We are aware of our differences from other teams. However, I also wish you well if you consider Australia to be rated sixth in the world.

 

Newsletter

Subscribe our newsletter to stay updated every moment