'I had a feeling from within that this tournament (Asia Cup) would be something special, but I did not think that I would become the player-of-the-tournament.'
India's forward line was guilty of wasting plenty of chances as ace drag flicker and skipper Harmanpreet Singh emerged as the home team's lone goal-scorer of the match.
Belgian defender Arthur De Sloover feels the way Indian hockey is progressing over the years, the country is a "big contender" for more glory at the word stage in future.
India crush Kazakhstan 15-0 to march into Super 4s with all-win record
Upton, who was a part of the support staff under head coach Gary Kirsten during India's 2011 Cricket World Cup-winning campaign, is currently associated with the national men's hockey team at the ongoing Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar.
Veteran India goalkeeper P R Sreejesh had no qualms in admitting that the tense 3-2 victory over New Zealand in the Paris Olympics omen's hockey opener was a wake-up call ahead of tougher pool matches, even as coach Craig Fulton was pleased that the team stuck to its plan in Saturday's match.
The Indian men's hockey team ended the Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League on a high, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over England.
India's chief coach Craig Fulton lamented that they lacked firepower up front and their mock penalty corner drills failed to deliver as they suffered a 0-2 defeat to world champions Germany
The India men's team overcame an early goal to outclass Ireland 3-1 in the FIH Hockey Pro League match.
The midfield will be spearheaded by Olympic bronze medal-winning former skipper Manpreet Singh, current vice-captain Hardik Singh and young Vivek Sagar Prasad, while India also boasts of a strong, attacking forwardline in Shamsher Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh.
Chief coach Craig Fulton said the tournament will provide younger players the opportunity to experience the pressure of facing some of the top sides in the world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Indian men's hockey team after their bronze medal triumph at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
Harmanpreet Singh will lead a 24-member Indian squad in the Europe leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League starting on May 22.
India are placed in Pool B alongside defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland.
India eye Paris revenge against Germany in Test series as international hockey returns to Delhi
Legendary Indian hockey captain Viren Rasquinha has laid out a clear challenge for the national men's team as they set their sights on a Paris Olympics medal
India would look to carry on the momentum and seal a win against Great Britain in the quarterfinals of the men's hockey competition of the Paris Olympics in Paris on Sunday.
India's hockey team skipper Harmanpreet Singh and veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh expressed disappointment at not being able to realise their goal of winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, but said a bronze will be at least better than returning home empty-handed.
Hockey team in search of a new path under coach Fulton
Indian men beat Argentina 5-4 in shootout of FIH Pro League
The Indian men's hockey team is undergoing a philosophy shift, moving away from the traditional attacking style of play with new head coach Craig Fulton emphasising on having a sound defense.
The event was distinguished by the presence of hockey legends, including former captains Sardar Singh, Dillip Tirkey and Mir Ranjan Negi, former coach Harendra Singh, and the entire bronze winning Indian team.
'We have to convert our penalty corners successfully and aim at having at least two or three goals through the corner, besides creating the same amount of chances in every quarter.'
Men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh on Saturday admitted India will have to focus on conceding fewer goals from the touchline and create more scoring opportunities.
Asked about the areas of improvement, Fulton highlighted that his boys could have received lesser number of cards, besides being more tactically aware of the opposition.
It's a distraction, it's challenging: Coach Fulton on rape allegations against defender Varun Kumar
Harendra said a medal will be fitting farewell gift for long-serving goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who will quit the sport after the Paris Games.
India hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh wants his team to stop conceding silly penalty corners during their crucial match against arch-rivals Pakistan on Wednesday.
Indian men's hockey team beat Great Britain 4-2 in shoot-out to enter the semi-finals and remain on course to win its second consecutive Olympic medal.
Craig Fulton that he is not someone who likes giving instructions to players from the sidelines,
The Indian men's hockey team will participate in the special sessions during a week-long camp at SAI, Bengaluru, to be overseen by India's chief coach Craig Fulton.
India would look to work on their penalty corner conversion rate when they take on Malaysia in their next Asian Champions Trophy match in Chennai on Sunday.
India look to maintain intensity throughout 60 minutes in semi-final against Japan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian men's hockey team for securing the bronze medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics on Thursday.
More matches between arch-rivals India and Pakistan will only benefit both sides as well as continent's hockey
Accused of rape under the stringent POCSO act, Arjuna award-winning Indian hockey player Varun Kumar has withdrawn from the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar to explore his legal options against the allegation, which he described as a "calculated attempt to extort money" from him.
The goal-keeper eyes coaching role post retirement.
With clock ticking down fast for the upcoming edition of the Asian Games, Hockey India named a 39-member core probable group for the Senior Men's National Coaching Camp.
India aim to avoid complacency against Pakistan
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