First Sports Exclusive: India hockey head coach Craig Fulton on 'deserving' win over Australia at Paris Olympics and more

India men’s hockey team head coach Craig Fulton believes that his team “fully deserved” the historic 3-2 win over Australia at the recently-concluded Paris Olympics. That was India’s first win over Australia at the Olympics in 52 years, with their last win over their rivals coming in the 1972 Munich Olympics.

A goal from Abhishek was disallowed against Australia courtesy a stick tackle by India. According to Fulton, that was a “100 per cent goal” from Abhishek and the match should have ended 4-1. Instead, the match ended 3-2 for India.

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“That’s a difficult one, because there’s a few. I think the win over Australia was incredible, and it was deserved,” Fulton told Rupha Ramani in an exclusive interaction on the First Sports show.

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“It should have been 4-1. We had a goal that was just allowed, that was 100 per cent a goal in my book. We ended up winning 3-2, but we had not beaten Australia in a major tournament like ever in the modern times. When you look at that as a progression from losing five times in a row, I knew we were on track. I knew we were matching up well against them. Because we’d done well in the first three pool games, we’d already made the quarters. That was where the pressure was on us,” he explained.

Fulton further explained that his team was looking to win the first three games of the group stage, or if not that, get as many points as possible from those first three games. India began with a 3-2 win over New Zealand, then drew against Argentina 1-1 before beating Ireland 2-0 in their third match.

“We had to start the tournament and win three games, or get as many points as possible. We got seven out of nine, because we drew with Argentina. But because of that, we could have a free go at Belgium and a free go at Australia.

“But at the same time, those were the two best teams to prepare us for a quarter. Then the next moment happened where the only thing we didn’t account for was a red card, but what we did have was a philosophy of defence for the last 14 months,” he said, recalling the red card for defender Amit Rohidas against Great Britain in the quarter-finals.

“Then it just worked out. We got our goal when we were a man down, and we had something to defend. And we ended up going 43 minutes to a shootout and were composed enough to win the shootout. But I think the bottom line was, we knew once we’d drawn that game, we were going to win. That was the difference. That was the moment for me. That’s why I was pushing so hard.

“I said, if we could just get to that 1-1 and full-time, I knew we’d win. Because the momentum was with us all the way. Absolutely. That was a great game. It kept us all hooked. I know, like you say, every single member contributes to this particular bronze,” elaborated the 49 year-old.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh were India’s leader throughout the tournament in Paris. Harmanpreet’s tactical acumen combined with Sreejesh building a wall in defence went a long way in India winning bronze in the Paris Olympics.

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“Yeah, they’re so different, which is great. Because Sreejesh is very extroverted and he’s emotional and he wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s a big, big character in the dressing room and in the team for us, which is really what we need. And he did his part.

“He did more than his part. And then Harman, Harman leads by example. He doesn’t say a lot, but when he does talk, he means business. And for him to score 10 goals from PCA (penalty corner attacks), anyone in world hockey would want him in his team, in their team. You get 10 goals in a tournament, you’re going to the podium. That’s a lot of goals. And we’re so glad to have him,” continued the former South Africa player.

‘The semi-final was a big disappointment’

Fulton said that the semi-final loss against Germany was a big disappointment. India were without Amit Rohidas for that match as he was serving a one-match suspension. India eventually lost 2-3 to Germany, and eventually play Spain for the bronze medal .

“I think the semifinal was a big disappointment because we were so close, and we played a good match. And if we’d lost that semifinal, final, and didn’t compete, then that’s a totally different conversation. We were really in that semifinal.

“We just couldn’t score. We tried everything, and it just didn’t happen. I’m disappointed for the guys, but at the same time, to pick yourself up and go and play the third, fourth game with so much at stake, and get on the front foot, score, do the right things, and get the right results, was everything for us,” said Fulton.

“We’ve only had 14 months with the team, with the staff, and to go back-to-back, we’re the only country, I think, in the two Olympic cycles that have won medals in both Olympics. That’s how hard it is. Australia out, Belgium out, and now you have Spain in, and then Germany didn’t win a medal, and then they went silver, and then Holland hasn’t won a gold for 24 years.

“That’s how hard this tournament is. For us to get consistency in back-to-back cycles is really, really good. Just a word on how the relationship has been, and how strong a bond has grown between you and the rest of the team,” added the Harare-born former athlete.