"Stay super calm and composed": Head coach Craig Fulton on India’s approach for semi-final clash against Pakistan at Asian Games 2026
Head coach Craig Fulton emphasizes calm and composure as India faces arch-rivals Pakistan in the high-stakes Asian Games 2026 hockey semi-final.
The Indian men's hockey team is gearing up for a monumental showdown as they face arch-rivals Pakistan in the first semi-final of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan. Ahead of this high-stakes encounter, head coach Craig Fulton has urged his players to maintain absolute composure and stick to their tactical strengths.
Simplicity over Pressure
With a spot in the gold-medal match on the line, the atmosphere surrounding the clash is intense. However, Fulton is opting for a minimalist approach to mental preparation. Rather than increasing the intensity of training or adding psychological weight, the coach wants the team to focus on what they do best.
"We're not adding more to it, we're actually doing less. And it's just the ability to stay super calm and composed and making sure that we put our own game plan on and we focus 100% on what we need to do and our strengths," Fulton stated in an interview shared via X.
The head coach acknowledged that while semi-finals are "games of consequence" where "all roads lead to this point," the team is treating this knockout fixture with the same focus as any other game, despite the heightened significance of the occasion.
India's Dominant Run to the Semi-Finals
India enters this semi-final as the defending champions and have been clinical throughout the tournament. They finished at the top of Pool A with a perfect record, securing five wins from five matches:
- Indonesia: 13-1
- Sri Lanka: 16-1
- South Korea: 8-2 (India's best historical result against them)
- Japan: 2-0 (A crucial victory against the hosts)
- Bangladesh: 10-0
The Indian attacking unit has been in devastating form. Striker Dilpreet Singh has netted nine goals, while captain Harmanpreet Singh and forward Abhishek have contributed eight goals each. Harmanpreet’s prowess in penalty corners remains a vital weapon for the squad.
The Battle of the Drag-Flickers
Pakistan, who finished second in Pool B after a narrow 4-5 loss to Malaysia, will provide a formidable challenge. Their campaign has been marked by high-scoring victories over Thailand, Uzbekistan, China, and Oman.
A key tactical battle is expected to emerge between the two sides' penalty corner specialists. Pakistan's Sufiyan Khan leads the tournament scoring charts with 11 goals, setting up a direct confrontation with India's Harmanpreet Singh. Both teams are acutely aware that conceding penalty corners in such a high-stakes match could determine the outcome of the semi-final.
The match is scheduled to take place on Thursday at 1 pm IST, with the winner advancing to face either Malaysia or South Korea in the final.