\n<\/p>\n
Choosing a squad for the World Cup in India is no easy task, especially in a country where failure can lead to intense criticism. Craig Fulton, the head coach<\/strong>, has taken a thoughtful approach to selecting his team, focusing on both current needs and future potential. His decision to include rising stars like Yashdeep Siwach and speedy Aditya Arjun Lalage over more experienced players has surprised many hockey fans. However, Fulton has solid reasons for this shift.<\/p>\n \u201cYashdeep is flexible and can play in both defense and midfield, making him a key player for us,\u201d Fulton explains. \u201cAditya is also vital for building our team for the upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles. We have seasoned players like Raj Kumar Pal ready as backups, but it\u2019s important for young talents like Aditya to gain experience under pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n The forward line is a mix of experience and energy, featuring veterans like Mandeep Singh, who is playing in his fourth World Cup, along with Sukhjeet and Dilpreet. Shilanand Lakra<\/strong>, returning from injury, adds an exciting element to the attack. Though it\u2019s his first World Cup, the coach believes Lakra has the skills needed to surprise opponents.<\/p>\n \u201cI prefer to think of it as \u2018focus\u2019 rather than \u2018pressure,\u2019\u201d Fulton says. \u201cWe don\u2019t avoid pressure; we embrace it. Shilanand is incredibly fast and talented with both hands. He\u2019s calm off the field and has the potential for brilliant moments. That\u2019s what we\u2019re aiming for.\u201d<\/p>\n India finds itself in Pool D, competing against England, Wales, and their traditional foe Pakistan. The team enters the tournament with strong recent performances in the Pro League, where they secured five wins out of eight matches. While many see this as a promising sign, Fulton warns against complacency.<\/p>\n \u201cWe set both ambitious and practical goals,\u201d he admits. \u201cWe want to win every tournament we enter. Currently, we\u2019re ranked seventh or eighth in the world, and some analysts give us only a 5% chance of winning. That\u2019s fine. We can approach the tournament without the spotlight for now.\u201d<\/p>\n Fulton faces an added challenge with a tough international schedule. Just two weeks after the World Cup, India will compete in the Asian Games, which is crucial for Olympic qualification.<\/p>\n \u201cEuropean teams wouldn\u2019t accept playing a World Cup followed by an Olympic qualifier in such a short time,\u201d Fulton laughs. \u201cBut we\u2019ve developed a solid pipeline of talent. Our programs for young players are closing the gap, ensuring our intensity and fitness remain high.\u201d<\/p>\n Concerns about India\u2019s performance in crucial matches stem from their reliance on captain Harmanpreet Singh for penalty corners. His success often dictates the team\u2019s ability to score. Fulton has worked hard to diversify their scoring options.<\/p>\n \u201cScoring from penalty corners is tougher today due to fast defenders,\u201d Fulton observes. \u201cHarman is exceptional, but we can\u2019t depend only on him. We now have four other players\u2014Jugraj, Sanjay, Rajinder, and Amit\u2014who can also take these shots, allowing us to score from various sources.\u201d<\/p>\n By distributing responsibilities among five drag-flickers, India hopes to be less reliant on any one player. This strategy is part of Fulton\u2019s effort to minimize uncertainty.<\/p>\n Since Craig Fulton took over, optimism has surged in Indian hockey. His experience as an assistant coach for the successful Belgian team brings a winning mindset. Indian hockey has struggled for years, often swinging between highs and lows. Fulton brings a clear plan\u2014one based on structure and tactical discipline.<\/p>\n The results speak for themselves, with an Olympic bronze and golds in regional competitions re-establishing India\u2019s standing. Yet, the hunger for success continues. The ultimate goal remains: breaking a 51-year drought since India last reached the World Cup semifinals.<\/p>\n Fulton is a coach who thinks deeply about every game. With his past experience and current role alongside Dilip Tirkey, the President of Hockey India, he\u2019s committed to achieving success for the team. His calm demeanor is reflected in the way he builds a squad that balances strong defense with a potent attack.<\/p>\n Critics sometimes label Fulton\u2019s style as overly cautious, but he counters that it\u2019s about necessity, not fear. \u201cWhen Spain won their World Cup, they conceded just one goal,\u201d he explains. \u201cIf you have a solid defense, it opens up many attacking opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n His approach focuses on smart play and quick execution. Unlike previous Indian teams that often fell to dominant opponents, Fulton\u2019s strategy forces rivals into tight spaces, turning turnovers into fast breaks.<\/p>\n Watching Fulton during a match is like observing a master strategist. He meticulously prepares every tactic and revises plans based on analysis. Yet even a coach so dedicated to the sport knows he needs downtime to manage the demands of his role.<\/p>\n \u201cThis job is always on my mind,\u201d Fulton admits. \u201cI only truly switch off when I talk to my family back home or play a round of golf. It helps me recharge.\u201d<\/p>\n After countless hours of training and planning, India is set to take the field, eager to shift the narrative of the last five decades. For Fulton, the focus is clear: actions speak louder than words, and the outcome will reveal the truth of their hard work.<\/p>\n Goalkeepers:<\/strong> Mohith HS, Suraj Karkera India\u2019s World Cup Squad: A Brave New Direction Choosing a squad for the World Cup in India is no easy task, especially in a country where failure can lead to intense criticism. Craig Fulton, the head coach, has taken a thoughtful approach to selecting his team, focusing on both current needs and future potential. His<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[50388,18384,14793,3349,50386,50390,50391,50387,50389],"class_list":["post-38139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-aditya-arjun-lalage","tag-asian-games","tag-craig-fulton","tag-harmanpreet-singh","tag-india-hockey-world-cup","tag-india-hockey-world-cup-drought","tag-pool-d","tag-shilanand-lakra","tag-yashdeep-siwach"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}World Cup Squad<\/h3>\n
\nDefenders:<\/strong> Jarmanpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh (c), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Yashdeep Siwach
\nMidfielders:<\/strong> Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad
\nForwards:<\/strong> Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"