Now Reading: Baskaran, Fulton back India for strong World Cup show
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Baskaran, Fulton back India for strong World Cup show
Olympic gold medal-winning captain V. Baskaran says the Indian men's hockey team is the best-prepared side for the World Cup starting August 15 in Belgium and the Netherlands. The 75-year-old, speaking at…
The Story in Brief
Olympic gold medal-winning captain V. Baskaran says the Indian men's hockey team is the best-prepared side for the World Cup starting August 15 in Belgium and the Netherlands. The 75-year-old, speaking at the Tamil Hockey League launch, called the squad balanced and praised goalkeepers Mohith H.S. and Suraj Karkera. Coach Craig Fulton, whose team has a 5-6 percent chance of winning according to bookmakers, aims for a podium finish. The South African admitted the Asian Games, beginning three weeks later, puts Asian teams at a disadvantage. Fulton stressed defence and counter-attacks, saying India is among the world's top three pressing teams.
The Indian Opinion
Indian hockey fans hear a familiar gush about 'best-prepared team' before every World Cup, but the 5-6 percent odds quoted by Fulton bring a sobering counterpoint. The double burden of the World Cup and the Asian Games three weeks later is real, yet no one is asking how a team that lost 0-8 to Argentina in January will suddenly peak in Europe. The real test is not the opening pool stage but the second round, where India have often stumbled. Does this team have the defensive structure to hold against the top four sides?
Sources (3): thehindu.com, economictimes.indiatimes.com, newindianexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
