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The Hindu
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
We are preparing for Pakistan: Fulton
Back to full-strength training after the disappointing Pro League tour of Europe, the Indian men's hockey team is putting in the hard yards to ensure better results in the upcoming Australia tour, with one eye on the Asia Cup back home later next month. The players have been training here for the last fortnight and, although the squad for Australia has been decided, the trials for the Asia Cup are scheduled for Friday as coach Craig Fulton zeroes in on his final 18 for the World Cup qualifying event in Rajgir. 'It's going good, and it's nice to have the India A group back as well and good competition, we are excited about the Asia Cup, that's the main priority for the year. We specifically chose Australia to tour for that reason (tougher opponents than the teams in Asia Cup) because we want to make sure we have covered all bases. To play a top team like Australia, from a physical and a tactical point of view, it will highlight quite quickly if we are on track or not. 'It's not always easy, we had a tough time when we went there the last time but 3-4 months later, we beat Australia for the first time (in the Olympics). That's the ideal scenario, to play someone better than you and then close the gap between where you started and where you finished,' Fulton said after training on Tuesday. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙪𝙥 2025. 🏆 Just 1 month to go. ⌛ From 29 August to 7 September, Rajgir Bihar is all set to welcome Asia's finest. 💪🏻 Get ready for non stop action, electrifying crowds and moments that will go down in… — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 29, 2025 The India A side also had mixed results on its Europe tour recently, but Fulton insisted it was part of a long-term process. 'With the India A, it's all development, they are not there to win games against Holland and Belgium and England. 'At the same time, we are looking at developing the next group of talented athletes. But they need good games, and they need to be tested, and I think we really got a good balance of seeing that. 'We just want to create more depth because what happens now with the Under-21s? They finish the World Cup, they can't come straight into the senior group, where do they go? This squad is for that, and then it's always really competitive so that whatever comes in is better than what's currently going out and that's how we are trying to manage that programme,' he said. As for the Asia Cup, he isn't thinking about the line-up just yet. 'I assume it's going to be Pakistan because if it's anyone lesser, I can't do anything about it. I'm preparing for Pakistan and that's how we're approaching it. The worst thing to do is not prepare and if they arrive, then use the excuse, 'Oh we didn't think they were coming'. '
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Indian team preparing hard for the Asia Cup, says HI president Tirkey
It was a woefully disappointing performance by the Indian men's hockey team in the recently concluded FIH Pro League, having finished eighth among nine teams, with the side suffering seven successive losses in the European leg. Dilip Tirkey, president of Hockey India, admitted that it has been a sub-par performance by the team, but Hockey India is watching the squad's performance and welcomed the team management to share information about players' form. 'Yes, the team did not perform as expected in the Pro League. If the players are tired and if they are not able to play well [for some reason or other], I've asked the team management to let us know. If the senior players are not performing to their own standards, the selectors can take strict action. We have important tournaments like the World Cup (August 14 to 30, 2026) and the Asian Games (September 19 to Oct. 4, 2026) coming up,' Tirkey told The Hindu, on the sidelines of the National sub-junior men's hockey championships here on Monday. With the Asia Cup (to be held from August 27 to September 7) in Rajgir, Bihar, where a spot is reserved for the winner to the World Cup, Tirkey said the tournament carries a lot of weight. 'The Asia Cup is an important tournament. The team is preparing hard for it,' he said. The Junior men's World Cup to be held in Madurai and Chennai from November 28 to December 10, will be a huge success, with the support of the Tamil Nadu Government, said Tirkey. 'The Government has always supported hockey. Take for instance the 2007 Asia Cup and the Asian Champions Trophy in 2023,' he added. The decision to include 24 teams in the Junior World Cup, Tirkey claimed is to expand the base. 'The weaker teams will gradually gain interest and get better. FIH (International body for hockey) is doing it to promote the sport. One-sided matches happened even when the World Cup had 16 teams,' he said.
Deccan Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Deccan Herald
100 Years of Indian hockey: HI unveils grants, Nov 7 festival
The support is expected to benefit thousands of emerging players, coaches, and grassroots officials who are the backbone of Indian hockey's future, Hockey India said in a statement.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Hockey India hosts 15th Congress, unveils nationwide festival and grants for 100-year celebration
Hockey India successfully conducted its 15th Congress in the historic town of Mahabalipuram on Sunday. Marking a century of Indian hockey's glorious journey, the session witnessed a series of landmark announcements, including a Nationwide Festival of Hockey Celebration on November 7 and substantial financial support for state and national-level hockey development. Indian hockey's legacy began in 1925 with the formation of its first-ever national governing body. To commemorate this historic milestone, Hockey India will organise an unprecedented, nationwide celebration on November 7. The event will feature 1,000 simultaneous matches - one men's and one women's match in every district of the country - engaging over 36,000 players (18,000 men and 18,000 women). This massive initiative will bring together players from every corner of the nation, reflecting not only the unity and diversity of India, but also the enduring passion that hockey continues to inspire. In a visionary move to further empower the ecosystem of Indian hockey, Hockey India announced substantial increases in financial grants to support the organisation of national and grassroots-level events: Rs 70 lakh each for hosting the Senior Men's and Senior Women's National Championships Rs 30 lakh each for Junior Men, Junior Women, Sub-Junior Men, and Sub-Junior Women National Championships. Rs 25 lakh per state to support the organisation of district and state-level competitions. These enhanced grants aim to strengthen infrastructure, improve event quality, and ensure wider participation by reducing financial constraints at the local level. The support is expected to benefit thousands of emerging players, coaches, and grassroots officials who are the backbone of Indian hockey's future. Dilip Tirkey, President, Hockey India, said,'As we celebrate 100 years of Indian hockey, we not only honour our golden legacy but also lay a strong foundation for the future. This nationwide festival is our tribute to every player, coach, and fan who has carried Indian hockey forward. The financial support we are announcing is a direct investment in the dreams of the next generation, ensuring that no talent is left behind due to lack of resources.' Bhola Nath Singh, Secretary General, Hockey India, added, 'This centenary celebration is not just symbolic - it's action-oriented. The increased grants are a reflection of our belief that real growth happens at the grassroots, and that equal opportunity, gender parity, and quality infrastructure are essential pillars of hockey's resurgence. We thank all our state units and districts for their commitment, and we look forward to a grand, inclusive celebration on 7th November.'
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
100 Years of Indian hockey: HI unveils grants, Nov 7 festival
Last Updated: Mahabalipuram, Jul 27 (PTI) Hockey India has announced a substantial increase in its financial grants to support the organisation of national and grassroots-level events during its 15th Congress here. Form now on, Rs 70 lakh each will be allocated for hosting the Senior Men's and Senior Women's National Championships, Rs 30 lakh each for organising Junior Men, Junior Women, Sub-Junior Men, and Sub-Junior Women National Championships. Besides, Rs 25 lakh will be given to each state to support the organisation of district and state-level competitions. These enhanced grants aim to strengthen infrastructure, improve event quality, and ensure wider participation by reducing financial constraints at the local level, Hockey India said in a press release on Sunday. The support is expected to benefit thousands of emerging players, coaches, and grassroots officials who are the backbone of Indian hockey's future, it said. Marking 100 years of Indian hockey's journey, the session witnessed a series of landmark announcements, including a nationwide festival on November 7. To commemorate the milestone, Hockey India will organise a nationwide celebration that will feature 1,000 simultaneous matches — one men's and one women's match in every district of the country — engaging over 36,000 players (18,000 men and 18,000 women). Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said: 'As we celebrate 100 years of Indian hockey, we not only honour our golden legacy but also lay a strong foundation for the future. This nationwide festival is our tribute to every player, coach, and fan who has carried Indian hockey forward. 'The financial support we are announcing is a direct investment in the dreams of the next generation, ensuring that no talent is left behind due to lack of resources." PTI AH AH ATK view comments First Published: July 27, 2025, 18:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
