Finishing eighth at the just concluded FIH Hockey Pro League in Europe must have dealt a psychological blow to the Indian men’s hockey team
The men’s hockey Asia Cup tournament in Rajgir, Bihar from August 27 will be a good opportunity for the Indian team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in Europe.
It will be home ground for India and other leading Asian hockey playing nations haven’t shown much of a promise in recent times, which will be a respite to India’s foreign hockey coach Craig Fulton.
He will also want the team to bury the ghost of losing seven-games in a row at the FIH Hockey Pro League in the Netherlands and Belgium. The Indian men’s hockey team, however, ended the FIH Hockey Pro League campaign on a winning note, scoring an exciting 4-3 win over Belgium to avoid relegation and finish eighth in the field of nine playing countries. Eighth-place finish in global competition for 2024 Paris Olympic Games bronze medal winners must have impacted psychologically.
Ireland finished ninth and at the bottom of the table to face the exit door. The Netherlands topped the chart. Other nations in the FIH Hockey Pro League were Australia, Belgium, Spain, Argentina, Germany and England.
Fulton and his team must have set goals for themselves during the FIH Hockey Pro League. The high octane matches in Europe must have been a good lesson both for India’s chief men’s hockey coach and the players. Of course there were teething issues, including penalty corner conversion during the FIH Hockey Pro League, but Fulton knows how to address them.
Eight nations, including hosts, will compete in the continental event. South Korea (defending champions), Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and China are other countries to have qualified for the Asia Cup.
The 2026 season will be more challenging for Indian team. The winner of Asian Games will get an automatic berth for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The 2026 World Cup in Europe will be another major competition. Since the 1975 World Cup triumph, India hasn’t won the prestigious global tournament. “The 2026 will be a litmus test for Fulton and his team,” a senior hockey coach said.
