The first half of the next four-year Olympic cycle will set Indian hockey's tone for Los Angeles 2028. The coming 24 months will culminate with two major assignments -- the World Cup and the Asian Games, both in 2026 -- for which coach Craig Fulton will start arranging the chess pieces from the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) onwards.
India's dominance in Asia can trigger yawning, but the nature of modern hockey can knock you out if you blink when you have to duck a punch. Under its last two coaches, Graham Reid and Craig Fulton, India have learnt that art well.
