Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2024: Five things we learned from Indian team's campaign

This was India’s first tournament after Paris Olympics 2024.

India won their fifth Men’s Hockey Asian Champions Trophy title by defeating hosts China 1-0 in the final at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Inner Mongolia. China defended well to keep India at bay for three-and-a-half quarters, but the task of eking out a draw proved to be too tough for them.

India were dominant throughout the competition and it was clear right from the beginning that they were favourites to clinch the title. With a few of the regulars absent, the new players utilized their opportunities to the fullest and have increased coach Craig Fulton’s options for upcoming tournaments like the Pro League and the World Cup.

With this having been the team’s first set of fixtures after the Paris Olympics 2024, Fulton has made his intentions clear on whom he wants to continue with and whom he wishes to phase out. The tournament has given us a number of learnings as the Indian men’s hockey team faces bigger challenges going ahead. Here are five of them:

5. Krishan Pathak & Suraj Karkera to share goalkeeping duties

With PR Sreejesh retiring after the Olympics, a gigantic hole was left behind. Krishan Pathak is expectedly the successor, having shared duties with the five-time Olympian at crucial tournaments like the World Cup and the Asian Games.

Fulton has decided to continue the system of switching goalkeepers after every quarter, which has meant that Suraj Karkera, incidentally the Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2021, too has got sufficient game-time and is likely to be the team’s backup custodian.

Also Read: Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024: India beat China in final to retain gold

The two did a fine job, conceding just five goals in seven matches, with two clean-sheets. Both made saves at crucial junctures, from open play as well as from penalty corners.

4. Core players from Paris Olympics to be retained

The tournament has made it clear that there is not going to be a complete overhaul from the Paris Olympics squad.

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh continues to form the fulcrum. The likes of Amit Rohidas, Sumit and Jarmanpreet Singh (who has played to perfection his additional role of trapping Harmanpreet’s aerial balls) are indispensable. Former skipper Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar and Raj Kumar Pal have done extremely well in the midfield, while forwards Abhishek (2 goals) and Sukhjeet (4 goals) have scored when needed.

With the likes of Hardik Singh (injured) and Shamsher (rested) set to return, we are likely to see a team quite similar to the bronze medal-winning one, competing in the upcoming matches.

3. Jugraj Singh to be India’s second drag-flicker

India were overdependent on Harmanpreet Singh for goals from set-pieces at the Olympics. The answer to that problem is Jugraj Singh. Jugraj was always a world-class drag-flicker, but his inability to completely do justice to his role as a defender meant he was just a reserve at Paris.

However, at the Asian Champions Trophy, he showed that he had developed an all-round game. From fulfilling his defensive duties to creating chances for the forwards, he did it all. Jugraj only scored one penalty corner goal, but that was mainly due to lack of opportunities.

The highlight though was his match-winning field goal in the final which testified to his adaptability and ability to adjust to the team’s needs.

2. Young forwards impress

With Mandeep Singh and Lalit Upadhyay having under-performed at the Olympics, Fulton has decided to move on. The likes of Araijeet Singh Hundal, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh and Mohammed Raheel got sufficient opportunities to display their potential.

Araijeet and Uttam were the most impressive of the lot. Araijeet, who has the rare advantage of having a height more than six feet, scored only two goals but created innumerable chances for the other forwards. Having been a drag-flicker during his junior days, he can be the X-factor which the team requires.

Uttam, a former India U-21 skipper, showcased his goal-poaching instincts and his ability to move 360 degrees in tight spaces, scoring four goals in the tournament. The Araijeet-Uttam link-up play could be something which fans are expected to witness going forward.

1. India are the best team in Asia by far

India clinched their fifth Asian Champions Trophy title, asserting their recent dominance in the continent. They defeated Malaysia in the league phase, a team they used to struggle against a few years ago, by a margin of 8-1. They secured two comfortable victories against South Korea and one more against Japan.

The only two games they faced resistance in were the league game against Pakistan (where they won 2-1) and the final against China, where they did have the lion’s share of possession, despite only scoring in the fourth quarter.

Having been the only Asian team at the Paris Olympics, it is clear that India are way ahead of the region’s remaining teams.

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