Rajgir (TIP)- “It’s relief in a way in a sense, because we’ve been on the road for 2 months, and it’s nice to walk away from here, being champions.”
These were the words of India coach Craig Fulton right after the Asia Cup 2025 final win in Rajgir on Sunday, September 7. You can’t blame the coach for feeling relieved — his side has endured a roller-coaster ride in 2025 following a fruitful period last year. India won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and then went on to claim the Asian Champions Trophy title.
But 2025 turned into a major reality check. India entered the European leg of the Hockey Pro League sitting third in the standings but went on to lose seven of their eight games against Australia, the Netherlands, Argentina and Belgium. That run saw them finish seventh and lose their chance at direct World Cup qualification.
This meant the Asia Cup was their last hope. If they failed, the high-pressure qualifiers awaited. Criticism about Fulton’s tactics and India’s inconsistency grew louder after the opener against China. Despite a 4-3 win, rust was visible in India’s game and the heavy reliance on captain Harmanpreet Singh to score goals was evident.
Wins against Japan and Kazakhstan gave the side momentum heading into the Super 4s. But then came the draw with Korea, where India lacked consistency and even failed to execute basic plays.
The response was emphatic. India clicked in the final three matches of the tournament, showcasing why they are still the best in Asia and ultimately securing the title.
It was hard-earned, but this transitioning side once again showed why they belong in the conversation among the best teams in world hockey.
For any team to succeed in tournaments like this, mindset matters as much as skill. Mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton said during the tournament that he believed the group had it in them to win major trophies like the World Cup and Olympics.
Vice-captain Hardik Singh echoed that belief after the final, saying the mindset from the start was to dominate Asia and secure World Cup passage. He also pointed out how the team managed to find the finishing touch in the latter stages, which proved decisive.
“Our mindset was that from here we have to qualify for World Cup and we have to dominate in Asia, so that was our message before this tournament.”
“And the way team has performed, after the match against Korea which was a draw, we made sure this time the finishing touch which was missing in that match will be completed. And how it went, I think we knew that we can beat any team here but our final had to be good and we worked on that,” said Hardik.
Hardik also highlighted the presence of multiple leaders within the group, which helped the team cross the finish line. Former captain Manpreet Singh, still one of the fittest players in world hockey despite playing over 400 matches, continues to set the tone. Add in the experience of Amit Rohidas and Harmanpreet, and the leadership core is strong.
“I think in this team there are many seniors, many juniors are coming, and also guys who are there in the team for eight-nine years. The combination is quite good. And like I said before, in every match we need five or six captains. Only one captain will not be enough.
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