Online Reporter
Under the gaze of men’s coach Craig Fulton, India’s hockey players run, dribble and sweat buckets at an intense training camp in Bengaluru.
Once the undisputed kings of field hockey, winning a record eight Olympic gold medals, India are targeting a return to their glory days bolstered by a string of recent successes after decades in the wilderness.
Demanding task master Fulton, a South African, is putting the players through the wringer in the heat and humidity of the southern Indian city, where both men’s and women’s national squads are training.
India’s men, under Fulton, are targeting victory the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium next month, a trophy they last lifted in 1975.
After that, it is on to Japan to defend their Asian Games gold, which would secure qualification for the 2028 Olympics.
The women’s team are looking to improve on the bronze they secured at the last Asian Games, coached by Dutch former player Sjoerd Marijne.
The players may not be under the same harsh spotlight as the country’s cricketers, but the men were no less revered when they won six consecutive hockey gold medals between 1928 and 1956 and two more in 1964 and 1980.
In Los Angeles, India’s men will seek to turn back-to-back bronzes from the Tokyo and Paris Games into their first gold for almost half a century.
Men’s captain Harmanpreet Singh, 30, believes the foundations are in place for a return to the top step of the Olympic podium after their bronze in Paris two years ago.
“It was a turning point no doubt,” Harmanpreet told AFP of the team’s second consecutive Olympic bronze. “This was a big achievement for us.
“I believe we are on track. Of course we have won bronze medals but we believe we can do better.
“The road to gold won’t be easy in the World Cup or the Olympics, but we are in good shape.”
GREAT EXPECTATION
Coach Fulton says expectations are high, but can be a burden, in a country which has an unrivalled golden history. Germany are the next most successful Olympic hockey nation with four golds.
“Every time India take the field they’re supposed to win and continue that tradition of gold medals and it’s not that easy,” Fulton told AFP.
“At the top level there’s really six or seven teams that can beat each other, so there’s lots to play for.”
India’s progress has been built on a core group of players led by Harmanpreet, one of the modern game’s most feared penalty-corner specialists, and midfielder Hardik Singh.
Confidence is high in the camp after recent results such as two wins over arch-rivals Pakistan, one of them by a crushing 7-1 margin, in the FIH Pro League in London.
India have also enjoyed victories against current world champions Germany and Olympic champions the Netherlands.
“Every nation has a time and I believe India has arrived in the last three to four years,” said the 27-year-old Hardik.
“We have done well in big events, and our era will be back.
“I think this is one of India’s best squads that I have seen in the last few years. There is a hunger to become world champions.” -SuperSport
