India striker Akashdeep Singh's goal against Malaysia in the Asian Champions Trophy final on Saturday night brought a big smile to the normally poker-faced Craig Fulton's face.
The South African, who took over as India chief coach in April, knew that a good start to his stint can go a long way. It can win him the confidence of the players and the Hockey India management which, in turn, will allow him to push forward with his own style.
India won bronze at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but they have failed to match that performance since. The performances in the Pro League were solid but the nine-team tournament, though played among the hockey elite, has rather become a tournament where teams experiment. The 2021 Asian Champions Trophy, their first tournament after Tokyo, saw them finish with a disappointing bronze. In the 2022 Commonwealth Games final they were hammered 0-7 by Australia while a second-string India only managed bronze at the 2022 Asia Cup.
India were experimenting as well but the poor run at the World Cup in January where India ended joint ninth - it was the worst show by a host team at the quadrennial showpiece-led to Australian chief coach Graham Reid's exit, only seven months before the Asian Games, where the winner gets a direct berth in the Paris Olympics.
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