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A bronze medal end is just not what hockey coach Craig Fulton had wished however the South African would relish the achievement merely for the truth that “underdog India” lifted themselves up from disappointments when nobody gave them an opportunity. India dominated Spain of their bronze play-off to safe a 2-1 win. The final time India achieved back-to-back medals on the Olympic Video games was in 1968 and 1972. India had endured a tough build-up to the Video games, receiving a 0-5 hammering by the hands of Australia and in addition struggled within the FIH Professional-League.
Fulton, although, stated his workforce had what it takes to ship on the largest stage. Prior to now India would desperately search for a medal-finish however now even a second consecutive medal is just not seen as the specified end result.
“We’re not glad right here the place we’re. We wished the one above and we did not get it. However the subsequent neatest thing to do was this,” Fulton stated after India received its second consecutive medal.
The coach stated the time interval between 2021 and 2024 was of constructing a workforce that might struggle collectively.
“I feel the most important factor was that we turned a workforce, and we did that by means of a really quick area of time. We would have liked to construct belief, as a result of that is the primary factor that you would be able to depend on,” Fulton stated.
“And I assumed we did a superb job within the Asian Video games to begin that course of. After which we clearly pushed by means of. We had some powerful instances in Australia, powerful instances within the Professional League.
“We knew we had it in us, and we got here in right here as underdogs. In a way, nobody even thought we have been going to make the highest 4.” Fulton stated he knew India may compete towards all these groups.
“And we had good outcomes. And, yeah, to get the belief again there, Paddy’s (Paddy Upton) had an enormous enter into that. However so has our workers, so has our group.” Solely India and Germany have achieved back-to-back medals and Fulton stated it offers a transparent message: “That exhibits we’re heading in the right direction. We’re pleased with our capacity to stand up after the disappointments.” India largely dominated the match towards Spain, attacking extra and defending nicely however Fulton stated “it was a tricky recreation, man”.
“Spain threw all the pieces at us. And it was stunning to lastly get the outcomes.” It was Spain that took the lead by changing a penalty stroke however Fulton stated they weren’t perturbed.
The mindset is now such that they’ve the assumption that the workforce can bounce again. “So, we have seen all of it, been by means of all of it. So, it was simply, begin once more. And I feel the good factor was, we knew if we received corners, we have been going to attain as a result of we had an incredible plan. And it labored like a bolt,” he stated.
“It was good. Yeah, nicely, the third quarter was nice. We have been in a position to put actual strain on. And we did that. And the primary factor is, we needed to handle the ball higher.” Requested in regards to the pre-match conversations, he stated, “We instructed them, it is not about who deserves it. It is about who needs it extra and that was a key message for everybody.” It took India 41 years to interrupt the Olympic medal jinx in Tokyo and the second got here inside three years. Can India keep constant? “You noticed the consistency within the event. It was a tricky begin for us. However then from, clearly, after we certified, beating Eire. After which the sport with Belgium, we nonetheless performed nicely. We needed to make some enhancements. After which that got here within the Aussie recreation,” Fulton stated.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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