Disappointing outcomes, robust classes however necessary to construct on positives: Craig Fulton

The Indian males’s hockey group slipped to eighth on the planet rating following a disappointing outing within the European leg of the FIH Pro League, ending with only one win in eight video games.

However, coach Craig Fulton prefers constructing on the positives and staying targeted on the Asia Cup that begins in lower than two months’ time.

“It was disappointing when it comes to outcomes vis-a-vis our expectations. At the identical time, we had been aggressive and will have simply drawn or received a few of these video games… so it was fairly irritating. Still, there have been some positives. Against Holland, we pressed rather well and had a improbable second sport. We simply couldn’t rating. We tried a brand new tactical system, a zonal system. In February, we did extra man-to-man system. Now we’ve each, so it’s a very good block of reflection for us and discovery,” Fulton mentioned throughout an interplay on Tuesday.

Captain Harmapreet Singh was injured for among the video games, however Fulton insisted the plan in the intervening time was to seek out somebody to enhance, not exchange him.

“Harman’s not going to play ceaselessly. But whereas he’s right here, how do we discover somebody who can assist him? Amit has a unique talent set. He can flick and he can hit. Jugraj has a very good flick, Rajinder and Sanjay have been trialled, and Neelam’s been examined. It’s troublesome to interchange Harmanpreet. It’s not one thing you concentrate on as a result of when you have him, he’s a strong drive. Yes, there’s a problem to interchange Harman, however we’re not changing him proper now,” he mentioned.

Admitting the seven-match shedding streak was irritating, Fulton accepted accountability for ‘not prepping the boys’ as required however most popular to concentrate on the learnings.

“You win or study, and it’s actually on you to take these classes and switch them into actuality. We can’t brush it underneath the carpet. Going into the Asia Cup, that’s our precedence for the 12 months. We need to keep No. 1 in Asia and get again to successful methods,” he insisted.