India Begins Defense of Asian Champions Trophy Following Olympic Success

A new cycle for Indian hockey has begun following an Olympic bronze medal, as the team sets out to defend their title at the Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir, China. The Indian team, under the guidance of coach Craig Fulton, has equally set their sights on the next significant international tournament - the World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands, scheduled for 2026.

While teams like Malaysia, Korea Republic, Japan, Pakistan, and China may not pose the same level of challenge, coach Fulton has made strategic moves to rest key players while giving young talent a chance to shine. Doing so is part of his strategy to build a team capable of consistently competing at the highest international level of hockey.

India dominated at the continental level in the past, and anticipate continuing this success in the tournament, despite resting players such as Hardik Singh and Mandeep Singh. India's unbeaten record during last year's Asian Games, where they scored 68 goals in 7 games, sets a high bar for the tournament.

It's considered likely that the other Asian teams will also be in transition, given their preparation for the 2028 Olympics. Regardless, India remains the favorite of the tournament, offering a chance for the other five teams to prove they can challenge India's dominance.

The Indian perspective of the tournament goes beyond defending the title, as this will be the first tournament of the post-PR Sreejesh era; Krishan Pathak takes over the reins from the legendary goalkeeper. Key changes have also been made to the forward line, providing players Araijeet Hundal, Gurjot Singh, and Uttam Singh a chance to make their mark in the absence of rested players Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay.