Paris Olympics bronze was the most satisfying moment: Fulton

India defended its gold medal in style at the just-concluded Asian Games but men’s team head coach Craig Fulton still rates the bronze medal finish at the Paris Olympics as the most satisfying achievement during his current tenure.

Reigning Olympic bronze medallist India hammered Malaysia 5-1 in the final and secured a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“Most satisfying moment is probably the Paris Olympics in a way of how we had stuck to our structures and our processes, even though we were losing games in the FIH Pro League and losing games against Australia before the Paris Olympics,” Fulton told PTI in an exclusive interview. 

“And then we peaked at the right time through good planning and obviously with all the staff doing a great job. And what happened then is we beat Australia for the first time in 50 years.”
The Indian men’s hockey team defeated Australia 3-2 at the Paris Olympics, ending a 52-year Olympic win drought against the Kookaburras.

“Then we go 10 men down and we managed to get a shootout win. We draw the game with Great Britain and get a shootout win in the quarters. And then we play a really good game against Germany in the semifinals and just lose 3-2.” Fulton said it was a very difficult period but he is delighted with the fact that India have dominated Asian hockey. 

“Yeah, that period was very special. But at the same time, in Asia, we’ve had an amazing run. People say it’s easy to win back-to-back medals in the Asia Games. It’s never been done before. India has never done it. So, it’s not easy.  I’m very proud of the performance that we’ve done in Asia,” he said. With only 20 days between FIH World Cup, where India finished a disappointing eighth, and the Asian Games, it was not a cakewalk for Fulton and his men. 

“To put two really good performances back-to-back within three weeks of two tournaments being three weeks apart, it’s really difficult. That’s why big tournaments are within three weeks of each other. You need time, you need space to recover and go again,” the South African coach said. But he said his big goal in 2026 was always the Asian Games to ensure a direct to 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.