Archive · 17 Sep 2026
India Hockey Team Begins Asian Games Push After World Cup
India’s men’s hockey team had a disappointing World Cup and finished eighth.
Now the team is preparing for the Asian Games.
India wants to win the tournament again and qualify directly for the 2028 Olympics.
Its first match will be against Indonesia on Sunday.
India is in a group with five other teams.
Coach Craig Fulton says the players have studied what went wrong at the World Cup.
They are now trying to turn those lessons into better play.
The team also held a bonding camp near Mount Fuji to strengthen teamwork.
India finished eighth at the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.
The team is preparing to defend its Asian Games men’s hockey title.
India will open its Pool A campaign against Indonesia on Sunday.
India shares Pool A with Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
A successful title defense would give India direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Who
- The Indian men’s hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh and coached by Craig Fulton.
- What
- India is preparing for the 2026 Asian Games after finishing eighth at the World Cup.
- When
- The team’s Asian Games campaign begins on Sunday; the report was published September 17, 2026.
- Where
- The Asian Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan; India trained at a camp near Mount Fuji.
- Why
- India aims to defend its Asian Games title and directly qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- World Cup result
- India finished eighth at the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.
- Asian Games objective
- India wants to defend its men’s hockey gold medal.
- Olympic qualification
- Winning the Asian Games would provide direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Opening match
- India will play Indonesia in its Pool A opener on Sunday.
- India’s pool
- Pool A includes India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
- Head coach
- Craig Fulton is the chief coach of the Indian men’s hockey team.
- Captain
- Harmanpreet Singh leads the Indian side.