India’s victory include tight defense and clinical forwards : Hockey, Asian Champions Trophy
“It’s just how we do things now,” replied Hardik Singh simply. Just minutes before, on a balmy Saturday evening, the Indian men’s hockey team achieved a remarkable victory over Malaysia to claim the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai.
In an exhilarating and nail-biting finale, India showcased their resilience by staging a remarkable comeback from a 1-3 deficit to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory against Malaysia. This heroic triumph marks India’s fourth title in the history of this prestigious competition.
India took an early lead in the ninth minute with a goal from Jugraj Singh. However, Malaysia quickly equalized in the 14th minute through Abu Kamal Azrai. In the second quarter, to the surprise of the home crowd at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Malaysia scored twice and took a commanding 3-1 lead.
However, India responded strongly with two rapid goals towards the end of the third quarter, courtesy of captain Harmanpreet Singh and Gurjant Singh. Akashdeep Singh then sealed the victory for India in the fourth quarter, resulting in a memorable win for them.
While the Asian Champions Trophy may not hold the same level of prestige as other international hockey competitions, it served as a valuable preparation for the upcoming Asian Games. With many of the teams that will be participating in Hangzhou also taking part in this tournament, it provided an opportunity to gauge progress and readiness. The host country demonstrated steady improvement under the guidance of head coach Craig Fulton.
Defend to win philosophy
During his inaugural press conference as the coach of the Indian team, Fulton expressed his preference for setting up a defensively solid unit that prioritizes winning. Despite taking charge just months prior to the significant Asian Games, Fulton has efficiently instilled his philosophy within a team that is equally enthusiastic about embracing it.
“Captain Harmanpreet Singh praised the coach, saying, ‘He is doing an excellent job.’ He also acknowledged that the team had made structural changes and applauded the coach for successfully managing those changes on short notice. Singh gave all credit to him.”
Under the guidance of their new coach, South African native who took over in late April, India has started transitioning their playing style. Previously under former coach Graham Reid, they heavily relied on employing a full-court press strategy. However, the team is now adopting a more defensive approach by sitting back a bit more during
During the 19 matches under Fulton’s leadership, India has prioritized a strong defensive structure to limit opposing teams’ opportunities. They have diligently denied time and space for their opponents to create chances while patiently biding their time for counterattacks.
India’s transition under new coach Fulton hasn’t been entirely seamless, as they have allowed goals against the Netherlands and Great Britain in the Pro League. However, there have been flashes of potential when the team embraces Fulton’s strategy, demonstrated in their victories over Belgium and Argentina in the Pro League, as well as their performances against the Netherlands and England in the Four Nations Tournament in Spain.
In Chennai, India followed a consistent defensive strategy when playing against lower-ranked teams. Utilizing a half-court press, India enticed the opposing teams to push more players forward, which created openings for India to launch effective counterattacks.
Since Fulton took over, the roles of players like Hardik, Manpreet Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, and Vivek Sagar Prasad have become increasingly vital. As central midfielders, their responsibilities now include winning possession before the 23-meter line and initiating quick counterattacks with precise passes. Manpreet and Vivek especially have flourished in their new positions, delivering standout performances that have proven decisive for the team in Chennai.
Rise of young forwards
One significant observation from the Asian Champions Trophy for India is the team’s impressive performance in scoring field goals. This accomplishment has alleviated some of the pressure on Harmanpreet to carry the entire burden of scoring.
RephrasePlayers like Sukhjeet Singh, Karthi Selvam, Gurjant Singh, and Shamsher Singh have seamlessly adapted to Fulton’s coaching style. They showcase their intelligence and agility through their strategic running and heightened attacking contributions. Sukhjeet and Karthi, in particular, had an impressive tournament by consistently earning penalty corners for the team and creating scoring opportunities for their fellow teammates while also finding the back of the net themselves.
The inclusion of rested players Abhishek and Dilpreet Singh in the Asian Games team selection has added pressure on veterans Akashdeep Singh and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay to prove their worth and secure their spots in the squad.
In recent times, Upadhyay’s performance has seen a decline. The bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics has faced challenges at both the FIH Hockey World Cup and during India’s Pro League matches in Europe.
While Akashdeep was India’s second-highest scorer in the tournament after Harmanpreet, he had a mixed performance with some missed opportunities. In the final match, he missed a few chances and his inconsistent trapping prematurely ended attacks.
Fulton’s strategy heavily relies on the forwards being precise and efficient in their attacks. Up until now, it has been the younger players who have risen to the occasion.
Harmanpreet’s back-up drag-flickers
India earned their first penalty corner in the final match after nine minutes. Unfortunately, Harmanpreet, one of the world’s most skilled drag-flickers, was not on the field at that moment. However, Jugraj Singh stepped up and gained India the lead by executing a precise drag-flick into the side of the goal. This marked Jugraj’s third goal of the tournament.
During the tournament, India was able to convert 16 penalty corners into goals, with 13 of them being direct goals. Harmanpreet led the team with eight goals from penalty corners, while Jugraj and Varun Kumar made significant contributions with three and two goals respectively. This impressive performance from their penalty corner specialists was a major highlight
Countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, England, and Belgium have a roster of skilled drag-flickers who consistently score goals from penalty corners. This not only alleviates pressure on the team’s primary drag-flicker but also allows for diverse strategies and routines to be implemented.
Ever since Rupinder Pal Singh retired, Harmanpreet has become India’s main drag-flicker with his exceptional skill in finding the perfect angles. However, the absence of a reliable backup option has frequently been detrimental to India’s performance, as was evident in the recent Hockey World Cup where Harmanpreet had an off-day and India failed to advance to the quarter-finals.
A crucial aspect is that the team only has one player proficient in drag-flicking, which gives opponents a clear target to defend against during penalty corners.
In Chennai, Jugraj and Varun seized more opportunities from penalty corners and converted them into goals. Importantly, both players, along with Amit Rohidas, were responsible for executing successful drag flicks even when Harmanpreet was on the field. Harmanpreet’s substitutes have demonstrated their capabilities when given the chance. It is crucial that they continue to receive opportunities to elevate their performance.
