Indian hockey is again at Chennai’s newly furbished Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, for the Asian Champions Trophy, which begins on Thursday, August 3 and can run until thirteenth.

Over the years, worldwide hockey in India grew to become unique to the state of Odisha with the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and the Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela internet hosting excessive profile matches, together with two World Cups.

The resolution to provide the match to Chennai, which final hosted a global match greater than 15 years again, is certainly a welcome transfer in maintaining with the beliefs of taking the game to numerous components of the nation.

India’s opponents and format

All the highest hockey nations in Asia will probably be in motion in Chennai, together with Pakistan. In whole, six nationwide groups have been clubbed into one pool and they’re going to play one another in a single round-robin format. The high 4 groups will progress to the semifinals whereas the remaining two groups will play a playoff match for the fifth/sixth spot.

India’s schedule:

India vs China on August 3 at 8.30 PM.

India vs Japan on August 4 at 8.30 PM.

India vs Malaysia on August 6 at 8.30 PM.

India vs. South Korea on August 7 at 8.30 PM.

India vs. Pakistan on August 9 at 8.30 PM.

The semifinals are scheduled on August 11 whereas the ultimate is on August 13.

What’s at stake for India?

The Asian Champions Trophy comes proper earlier than the identical groups head to China for the Asian Games, beginning on September 23. Basically, all of the groups will use the match as preparations for his or her Asian Games marketing campaign, which can also be a pathway to qualify for the Olympic Games. The gold medal winners in hockey at Asian Games mechanically make it to the Paris Games subsequent yr.

Fulton can even wish to get a greater thought of the squad, with this match being the final likelihood to experiment and discover out extra concerning the gamers. Although it have to be famous that the core of the crew has been taking part in collectively for a while, and no new names are within the combine.

While the bigger context of the match is the preparation for the Asian Games, that is additionally an opportunity for Fulton and India to win a trophy in entrance of a house crowd. The disappointment of the World Cup continues to be recent so this a chance to make issues proper for the followers and the gamers themselves and achieve some momentum forward of the all-important Asian Games. India, being the top-ranked nation amongst all of the taking part groups and the one one with Pro League expertise, have it in them to go all the way in which and win the match.

However, previously, India struggled to make it depend within the latter levels on the Asian stage. In the earlier Champions Trophy, India misplaced within the semifinals and earlier than that, they could not make it to the ultimate of 2018 Asian Games. On each the events, India topped the group stage with no defeat however faltered within the semifinals.

It’s time to vary the sample.

India’s type and Fulton’s reign thus far

India come into the match after an honest run on the four-nation invitational match in Spain, the place they beat the Netherlands (this season’s Pro League champions) to complete third. Fulton, who earlier took cost of the nationwide crew in May, had a blended begin to his reign. He started with eight away matches in Pro League taking part in towards the likes of Great Britain, Belgium, Netherlands, and Argentina. They ended up with 4 wins and 4 defeats.

While there is a change in type from Reid’s tenure, the concept being ‘defend to assault’, Fulton is but to place his mark on the crew. In his first eight matches, the crew conceded 19 objectives whereas scoring 20. The defence has seen enchancment in Spain, the place they stopped the likes of Netherlands and England from scoring multiple aim within the group matches.

The upcoming 5 matches (or extra) ought to see the crew utterly adapting to Fulton’s type. Hopefully, the top coach has acquired sufficient time by now to imprint his concepts on the gamers.

Players to be careful for

As is the norm, captain Harmanpreet Singh cannot be ignored. The dragflick specialist, among the best on the planet, has been in excellent type, scoring thrice in 4 matches in Spain. He additionally ended up as the very best goal-scorer within the newest Pro League season, netting 18 objectives. Like talked about above, he additionally has a factor or two to show after a poor World Cup outing at house.

There’s additionally native boy Selvam Karthi and his pure aim scoring instincts. Karthi picked up the game in Ariyalur and have become among the best younger skills to come back up from Tamil Nadu. He has an opportunity to showcase his abilities in entrance of his house crowd and seal a spot within the Asian Games squad.

Akashdeep Singh missed the Spain tour as Fulton wished to strive others forwards however acquired an opportunity to affix the squad for the Asian Champions Trophy. A full of life presence within the attacking areas with loads of massive match expertise, Akashdeep will hope to impress Fulton and assure his identify within the Asian Games squad.

Squad

Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak

Defenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Jugraj Singh, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas.

Midfielders: Hardik Singh (vice-captain), Vivek Sagar Prasad, Manpreet Singh, Nilakanta Sharma and Shamsher Singh.

Forwards: Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, S Karthi.

The Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 will probably be reside on Star Sports and FanCode. It can even be reside streamed on watch.hockey for viewing exterior of India.