India Hockey Coach: The Indian men's hockey team is one win away from back-to-back medals in the Olympic Games. Harmanpreet Singh & Co. are already in the semifinal and are certain of playing at least a medal match. With the way India have played in the competition so far, the entire nation is confident that they won't be able to return from the French capital empty-handed. But there is one man who has headed the coaching staff of the Indian men's hockey team and has played a pivotal role in their journey which has landed them on the verge of a podium finish.
It happens to be none other than Craig Fulton, the man who is the head coach of the Indian men's hockey team. When India finally sealed a win in that epic quarterfinal over Great Britain in which they emerged victorious 4-2, it wasn't only the players that were emotional. Fulton's emotions were palpable. He had lost his voice which was apparent when he started speaking to the broadcasters after the match.
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Speaking of the match and India's heroic defence in their match against Great Britain in the quarterfinal, Fulton had said: "We've been talking about defence for 14 months and we dug deep and Sri (Sreejesh) was immense. When you talk about defence, it's also about showing your love for your teammate by covering him and helping him. And Sreejesh did that for us and we did that for him.
"Everything is at stake. And everything went the other way than we thought it would go. So, what an amazing day. That's why I'm saying it's a statement versus a match," the 49-year-old, born in Harare, was quoted by news agency PTI.
Craig Fulton Not New To Coaching
Fulton may well be on the verge of guiding India to an Olympic medal but he is not new to coaching. Fulton took over as the Indian head coach of the men's hockey team when in March 2023. India had not done well in the Hockey World Cup at home and with the Paris Olympics approaching, there was little time to turnaround. But the former South Africa International hockey player who has coached teams like Ireland in the past has managed to achieve just that in the short span of time.
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Fulton has represented South Africa in the Olympics, featuring in two Summer Games himself, and would now want to use all his experience into play when he prepares the team for that semifinal in absence of defender Amit Rohidas after having been handed a one-match ban after being red-carded in the quarterfinal. India are set to play Germany in the semis.