The podium end on the final Games got here after a 41-year wait and there was a lot reduction and celebration when the lengthy drought got here to an finish. But Fulton emphasised that it could possibly’t stay a one-off achievement. The subsequent huge occasion, the Hockey World Cup on residence soil, noticed India bow out of competition earlier than the quarterfinal stage.

“If the players don’t want to improve on the bronze medal, there’s not much I can do as a coach,” the South African mentioned. “One needs to develop the belief and consistency to maintain the ‘Olympic Standard’ that they have set.”

It all comes all the way down to the tradition and surroundings of a bunch, Fulton, who has labored with the Belgian and Irish set-ups earlier than taking up the India job, mentioned in an internet media interplay.

“It depends on the accountability, teamwork and leadership in the group. The players need to lift each other and maintain the required spirit. They need to keep each other on their toes. Iron sharpens iron.”

India’s performances since Tokyo have been fairly erratic. The early ouster from the house World Cup was a debacle, and value head coach Graham Reid his job. But the show in FIH Pro League video games towards Germany and Australia, wherein India remained unbeaten, was a lift in confidence, and are on the prime of the factors desk in that event.

Those video games had been performed with excessive efficiency director David John stepping in on an interim foundation. It’s been simply two and a half weeks since Fulton took over on the nationwide camp on the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bengaluru.

Drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, will proceed to guide the crew within the subsequent spherical of video games because the crew travels to Europe – first to London to face Great Britain and Belgium twice every, after which to Eindhoven to tackle hosts the Netherlands and Argentina in a few matches apiecep. The defender skilled the excessive of Tokyo, however burdened that there was no query of being glad and the gamers needed extra.

“We stay in camps for almost the whole year because we want to achieve more than what we have previously. We want to keep improving and certainly don’t want to get into a comfort zone,” he mentioned.

Traditional weaknesses

Inconsistency has been the bane of Indian hockey for many years, however Fulton mentioned it was a difficulty with most sides.
“It’s a big problem for everyone, not just India. Teams aim to win back-to-back matches in big tournaments, quarterfinals and semifinals, and a few bad minutes can put a side out. It’s important to have our best game at the end.”
Mental fragility at key moments of huge matches has been one other disadvantage of the crew for a very long time, and the brand new coach mentioned there was some motion to deal with that weak spot. “I have been in conversation with Hockey India and looking to fill that gap in our preparation. It’s a priority area and we are busy on it,” Fulton mentioned.

Harmanpreet made no secret of the sensation {that a} psychological conditioning coach or psychologist – no matter designation one makes use of to explain the knowledgeable – will assist the gamers.

“The team will definitely benefit as the specialist will analyse the mentality of the players and help them improve. It also depends on how long the expert is with the team,” the 27-year-old mentioned.
Talking about the place he sees the Indian crew for the time being and the place he goals to take them, Fulton, 48, mentioned there was work to do.

“We are a superb facet, not the most effective facet. Ideally, we ought to be aiming on the gold medal, however there’s a hole between us and the highest two groups on this planet. In the quick and medium time period, we should be the No.1 crew in Asia constantly, and attain the rostrum in whichever event we play. First of all, we have to win the Asian Games gold medal to qualify immediately for the Paris Olympics, and all our matches earlier than the Asiad shall be geared with that objective in thoughts.

“India is very difficult to play against at home, and generally anywhere in Asia. But as most of the big tournaments in the next few years are scheduled outside the continent, we need to become better overseas,” Fulton mentioned.

‘Defend to win’

Every coach comes together with his personal philosophy concerning the sport, and Fulton’s relies on power from the backline.
“Defend to win – that’s my coaching style. It’s the first step to win the ball back and launch a counter-attack. One can employ a high press only if there’s stability at the back. The Indian team has got good strikers and it takes time to imprint an ideology while harnessing the innate DNA of a side. Anyway, we don’t have time to make any big changes. Whatever style one employs, the players need to be composed enough to execute it,” he mentioned.

Coaching the Indian hockey crew is among the most high-profile jobs within the sport, however comes with its personal pressures and expectations. The attrition fee of coaches has traditionally been very excessive, however the newest appointee is speaking a superb sport.
“It’s one of the hardest jobs in hockey but I expect to do well. I am very positive. I like to work on projects, and this is a totally different scenario to what I had in Ireland or Belgium. I enjoy meeting and working with people,” the South African added. “The players need to have a flame inside them, a never-say-die attitude which says: ‘We never lose, we just run out of time.’”