Latest news with #FIHProLeague
The Hindu
a day ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
We want to stay No. 1 in Asia and get back to winning ways: Fulton
Going in as genuine contenders for a World Cup spot through the FIH Pro League and returning with just one win, seven successive defeats and second-from-last position was not part of the plan for the Indian men's hockey team on the European leg of the competition but coach Craig Fulton is in no mood to press the panic button. With just over a month to go for the Asia Cup — the next opportunity for the team to book a 2026 World Cup spot — Fulton is keen on learning from the negatives of the tour, building on the positives and staying focussed on the main prize. As the team prepares for an important Australia tour, Fulton spoke about a wide range of issues including taking responsibility of the performances, developing a strong bench and keeping emotions apart from facts to move ahead. Excerpts: What is your takeaway from the European leg of the Pro league? It was disappointing by the results in terms of what our expectations were. There were small moments in every game that didn't go according to plan. At the same time, we were competitive and could have easily drawn or won some of those games, so it was quite frustrating. A lot of it comes down to small moments, restarts, a little bit of defending, outletting under high pressure, penalty corner defence and attack. Normally, we're pretty good in those areas. And for some reason, it just didn't work out the way we wanted it to. We've got a plan for improving those areas. Still, there were some positives. Against Holland, we pressed really well, we had a fantastic second game. We matched them for circle entries, we had more PCs. Unfortunately, we just couldn't score. There were big moments in games that we didn't take. We tried a new tactical system, a zonal system. In February, we did more man-to-man system. Now we have both, so yeah, it's a good block of reflection for us and discovery. How do you deal with something like seven straight defeats as a coach? It was extremely difficult. I've been through that once before with the Ireland men. I think we had eight straight defeats before we played the Rio Olympics, because we were playing teams better than us. But in this situation, there's more of an expectation that you would beat teams around you or even ranked above you. The boys felt frustrated that we were doing the right things but couldn't finish. And then we would make mistakes and lose by a goal. But you win or you learn. It's really on you to take those tough lessons and turn them into reality. Take away the emotions and find the facts. We couldn't finish the fourth quarter like we started the first. There are lessons everywhere, we've had a good reflection on them. We'll now bring out those lessons and put them into training. I think one of the games, it might have been the Argentina match, where at the start of every quarter, we conceded a goal, straight up after scoring. It's just a lapse in concentration and I'll take full responsibility for not having prepped the group the way it needed to be. But that's what happened, we can't brush that under the carpet. We have to man up and be accountable for that. I know the guys want to fix it. And they know they can fix it. Especially going into the Asia Cup and beyond, that's our priority for the year. We've got a lot of good teams wanting to win this tournament, get direct World Cup qualification. We want to stay number one in Asia and get back to winning ways. Could you elaborate on the team's frustrations during that losing streak? You have an expectation to play well, get the results, and then it doesn't happen. How do you bounce back, stay together, not blame? How do you just stick together and make sure that your values shine through on the pitch? Your work rate, discipline is there. It's frustrating for the player and for the team. Because what if it happens in a tournament? How are you still able to win important matches if you're not at full strength? You have to find a way to win. I think also when you add one or two injuries to that, that was a difficult period. But it's also an opening for others to take more responsibility. And that's also really important in a programme where you want to qualify for the World Cup. You mentioned different structures you've been trying since the start of this year... There's always a story behind the results. We're preparing ourselves for tournament hockey and different oppositions. When you come to the World Cup, there's world opposition. Not everyone plays the same way. We're already looking at that a year out. What we are pleased with is the tactics we chose and the way we played. We could do both. We didn't get the results per se but at a tournament, you would have 16 or 18 players and with each performance, they can get better. When you have 24 players, everyone needs an opportunity to play, so it's not perfect. At the same time, we showed that we were competitive enough in the tactics we chose and that the players could implement those tactics. We didn't get the results but we can certainly get better in certain areas. We have to focus on PC defences and attacks, the final third, conceding soft goals along the baseline, things like that. But that's fixable and trainable. Do you take heart from the fact that there were similar results before the Paris Olympics but the team went on to win a medal? You see the lessons you have to learn behind the scenes. Is it pleasant losing five in a row? No, it's the most frustrating place to be. But as long as you turn those lessons into something tangible, it's worth it. They're exposing where you're actually weak and that's what you need. If you don't and you go and play them in a big tournament, then it's on you. I'm glad we did a good job with that. We have to do a good job with these results now, moving forward. How important was the Pro League in terms of assessing the conditions for the World Cup? Very important. It's also why we got the Indian-A team to play matches in Holland and Belgium, so there's seeds planted around, 'this is where it's going to be. This is what's going to happen'. Although we're not playing at the tournament venue, it's away from India and that's really important because it's easy for an Indian team to play in India, the support is phenomenal. It's how an Indian team performs away that is the true mark of how the programme is set up and how successful it is. We're trying to do a lot of games outside India so that they don't have full support in the build-up games. A World Cup won't be any different. You've repeatedly spoken about Harmanpreet and how he was missed with injury. Is there any thought on how the team wants to go ahead when he's not there on field? I think there's a short and long-term view on this because obviously Harman's not going to play for the national team forever. But while he's here, how do we find someone who can support him? Amit has a different skill-set, he can flick and hit. Jugraj has a good flick, Rajinder and Sanjay have been trialled, Neelam's been tested. But yes, it's difficult to replace Harmanpreet. It's not something that you think about because while you have him, he's a powerful force. At the same time, when you don't have him for four or five games, it makes a big difference. But that's a good problem to have. Yes, there's a challenge to replace Harman but we're not replacing him right now. We also have some variations, options that we haven't used yet. Following up on that, there's just three weeks between the World Cup and the Asian Games next year and both are important. In that sense, how crucial is it to actually find backups, not just for Harman but for every role? This is exactly why we we did the tour with the India-A squad. We're looking to build depth within our squad. We had a training camp with 40-odd players but it's like two squads, for the specific reason you've just mentioned. No one else in the world I think has their World Cup and three weeks later their Olympic qualifiers. It's a massive challenge. We are trying to build depth and then, as we go into the next three, six, nine months, we'll have a better idea on the specific positions we need backups for. We've got a good idea of it. But once you start playing games, and once we qualify, then we'll know what we really need. The key is that the Indian-A team keeps playing games and gives these younger players opportunities and I think it'll benefit Indian hockey in the long run. What is the plan going forward? There's a block of four friendly matches in Australia. We take a squad of 24 and we'll do selection try-outs there. We'll have 20 players that go to Bihar, 18 in the squad and two standbys.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Poor Pro League campaign a wake-up call for India: Sreejesh
The recently concluded FIH Pro League was not too kind to Indian hockey. While the women's team got relegated after finishing last in the nine-team competition in June, the men, who were on a high after winning a second straight Olympic bronze in Paris nearly 12 months ago, finished eighth in the Europe leg of the marquee league after a run of seven consecutive defeats. Former India captain and goalkeeping great P.R. Sreejesh said the poor run of results should be a wake-up call for the men's team ahead of next year's Asian Games and World Cup. The 37-year-old, who retired at the end of the Paris Games, was speaking in the national capital on the sidelines of the launch of the 20th edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. The race, which will be flagged off from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, is slated for October 12. 'The players gave a good fight on the field. Sometimes, the results are not favourable. Looking forward to next year, the Asian Games and the World Cup are coming up. Pro League can be a very good wake-up call for the team to be on its toes and prepare for the World Cup and Asian Games,' the two-time Olympic bronze medallist told reporters. Since hanging up his playing boots, Sreejesh has transitioned to training the young generation. He is currently the chief coach of the Indian men's junior hockey team. His major assignment this year is the Men's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup in November and December that Chennai and Madurai are co-hosting. Facing pressure 'I faced enough pressure as a player. Being a coach, it is time for me to take the pressure off the players. India is hosting the junior World Cup. Maybe there are going to be around 10,000 people watching the players. I've just told them to be ready to accept these things and give their best on any particular day,' he said.
United News of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Pro league a wakeup call for Indian team: Sreejesh
New Delhi, July 17 (UNI) Former India Hockey great PR Sreejesh feels that India's poor show at the European leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25 is a wakeup call ahead of Asia Cup in August. India finished eighth on the FIH Pro League 2024-25 points table after suffering seven successive losses in the European leg of the tour. Speaking to the Press on the side-lines of the launch event of the 20th Vedanta Delhi Half marathon yesterday evening he said "I think the team performed well, we created a lot of opportunities, we gave very good fight on the field but sometimes it happens, the result went against us but the result went against us. This result is a very good wake up call for us ahead of the Asia Cup, and other crucial tournaments like the World Cup and Asia games next year." The Asia Cup will be held in Rajgir, from August 27 to September 7, 2025. The Hockey World Cup will be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands in August 14–30, 2026 while the Asian Games will be held from September 19 to October 4, 2026. Sreejesh, who won the 'World Games Athlete of the Year' in 2021 expressed happiness that more and more people are taking to running as a way to stay healthy "Every year more people are joining and running (in the Delhi Half Marathon) is becoming more popular, it's exiting, people should challenge themselves, get into the rhythm." The two time Olympic medallist who is now the Head Coach of India men's national U-21 team said that as a coach one of his main job is to ensure that the players learn how to handle pressure "As a coach my job is to take the pressure off the players, I tell them that during the Junior World Cup 10 thousand odd people will be cheering and yelling at you, accept these things, being a coach sharing my playing experience with the players is very important" he said. The 2025 Men's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup will be held in Chennai from November 28 to December 10, 2025. UNI RKM
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Pro League a wake-up call before Asian Games, World Cup in 2026: Sreejesh
Former India captain and goalkeeping stalwart P R Sreejesh believes the just-concluded FIH Pro League was a good wake-up call for the men's national hockey team ahead of next year's Asian Games and the World Cup. India struggled in the European leg of the Pro League and finished eighth out of nine teams to avoid relegation by a whisker. But Sreejesh, who was part of India's bronze medal winning sides in Tokyo and Paris Olympics, felt that players didn't perform too badly but unfortunately results didn't favour the team. "I think the players performed really well, we created lot of opportunities. We gave very good fight on the field but sometimes it happens the result went against us," Sreejesh said on the sidelines of the launch of Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on Wednesday night. "The preparation was perfect but unfortunately the result was not perfect for us but the coaches have enough time to prepare the team for the Asia Cup and definitely next year the Asian Games and World Cup is there. "I think this Pro League gave us a very good wake-up call to prepare and to be on our toes to prepare for World Cup and Asian Games," he added. The Asian Games will be hosted by Aichi-Nagoya in Japan from September 19 to October 4, while the World Cup will be jointly organised by the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30. Post retirement after Paris Games, Sreejesh is now the coach of Indian men's junior hockey team and he is enjoying his current journey. "Same routine, when you wake up early in the morning it's about preparing the players, ensure they are doing their best and rest of the day prepare for the next session, analysing the players. "The only thing is that I am stressing my mind more now, earlier I used to stress my physical part but now it's about my mental part. But I am enjoying," he said. India is set to host the FIH Junior World Cup in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 till December 10 this year, and Sreejesh is not leaving no stone unturned to prepare his players. "For them (players) the biggest challenge is Junior World Cup because four-nation tournaments and stuffs like that are not going to throw enough pressure on them as the Junior World Cup. My duty is to share my experience with them, how to prepare for a big tournament, big matches," he said. "I faced enough pressure being a player and now being a coach I think it is upto me to take that pressure from the players . I am helping them to be realistic. Being a coach sharing experience as a player is more important." India are clubbed along side Pakistan, Chile and Switzerland in Pool B at the Junior World Cup. Even though uncertainty looms large over Pakistan's participation in the Junior World Cup owing to tensions between the two countries following Operation Sindoor, Sreejesh doesn't want to focus on one particular team. "We are in the same pool (India and Pakistan) but I don't want my players to think about one particular team," he said. "Any tournament starts from the quarterfinals, the main moto is to gather as much points as you can to ensure your place in the quarterfinals and from there the main tournament starts. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Pro League was a wake-up call ahead of next year's Asian Games and World Cup: Sreejesh on Indian hockey team's struggles
Former India captain and goalkeeping stalwart PR Sreejesh believes the just-concluded FIH Pro League was a good wake-up call for the men's national hockey team ahead of next year's Asian Games and the World Cup. India struggled in the European leg of the Pro League and finished eighth out of nine teams to avoid relegation by a whisker. But Sreejesh, who was part of India's bronze medal-winning sides in Tokyo and Paris Olympics, felt that the players didn't perform too badly but, unfortunately, the results didn't favour the team. 'I think the players performed really well, we created lot of opportunities. We gave very good fight on the field but sometimes it happens, the result went against us,' Sreejesh said on the sidelines of the launch of Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on Wednesday night. 'The preparation was perfect but unfortunately the result was not perfect for us but the coaches have enough time to prepare the team for the Asia Cup and definitely next year the Asian Games and World Cup is there. I think this Pro League gave us a very good wake-up call to prepare and to be on our toes to prepare for World Cup and Asian Games,' he added. The Asian Games will be hosted by Aichi-Nagoya in Japan from September 19 to October 4, while the World Cup will be jointly organised by the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30. Post retirement after Paris Games, Sreejesh is now the coach of the Indian men's junior hockey team and is enjoying his new role. 'Same routine, when you wake up early in the morning it's about preparing the players, ensure they are doing their best and rest of the day prepare for the next session, analysing the players. The only thing is that I am stressing my mind more now. Earlier, I used to stress my physical part but now it's about my mental part. But I am enjoying,' he said. India is set to host the FIH Junior World Cup in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 till December 10 this year, and Sreejesh is leaving no stone unturned to prepare his players. 'For them (players) the biggest challenge is Junior World Cup because four-nation tournaments and stuffs like that are not going to throw enough pressure on them as the Junior World Cup. My duty is to share my experience with them, how to prepare for a big tournament, big matches,' he said. 'I faced enough pressure being a player and now being a coach I think it is up to me to take that pressure from the players. I am helping them to be realistic. Being a coach, sharing experience as a player is more important.' India is clubbed with Pakistan, Chile and Switzerland in Pool B at the Junior World Cup. Even though uncertainty looms large over Pakistan's participation in the Junior World Cup owing to tensions between the two countries following Operation Sindoor, Sreejesh doesn't want to focus on one particular team. 'We are in the same pool (India and Pakistan) but I don't want my players to think about one particular team,' he said. 'Any tournament starts from the quarterfinals. The main moto is to gather as much points as you can to ensure your place in the quarterfinals and from there the main tournament starts.'
