July 10, 2025

Team India's hockey squad faced a challenging phase during the European leg of the FIH Pro League, enduring defeats against top teams like Argentina, Australia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Striving to secure a World Cup berth, they narrowly avoided finishing at the bottom. However, this served as a wake-up call, prompting the team to redirect their focus towards the upcoming Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar. Scheduled for the end of next month, the Asia Cup presents a crucial opportunity for India to qualify for the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium next year. As preparations kick off with a training camp and a squad selection process, India's head coach, Craig Fulton, stresses the significance of the Asia Cup and the team's determination to maintain their status as the top-ranked team in Asia. Despite facing challenges from formidable rivals like Pakistan, Malaysia, and South Korea, India enters the tournament as the highest-ranked Asian team and a strong contender for the title. With a key focus on shoring up their defense and addressing previous performance issues, especially conceding 26 goals in eight matches, India aims to showcase a more resilient gameplay in the upcoming tournament. The absence of captain Harmanpreet Singh due to a finger injury posed additional challenges, requiring other players to step up and fill the leadership vacuum. Coach Fulton acknowledges the tough lessons learned during the Pro League and emphasizes the team's readiness to make a strong comeback in the Asia Cup.

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Tags: Fih pro league, Team india, Hockey, Asia cup, Craig fulton,