2 months ago
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The Indian men’s hockey squad has begun 2026 — a twelvemonth of large stakes — connected a worrying note. Four matches successful the Rourkela limb of the FIH Pro League ended successful 4 defeats, including a humiliating 8–0 nonaccomplishment to Argentina. With the Asian Games successful Japan and the Hockey World Cup successful the Netherlands and Belgium conscionable months away, the results person raised uncomfortable questions.
Are these early-season stumbles simply portion of a longer mentation cycle, oregon bash they constituent to superior issues successful defence, goalkeeping, fittingness and mentality? Should youngsters person been blooded successful earlier? And however overmuch unit is mounting connected manager Craig Fulton?
In this occurrence of In Focus, we analyse what went incorrect successful Rourkela, the hunt for stableness successful extremity aft P.R. Sreejesh, and wherefore the halfway radical of players who person been successful the squad for years request to beryllium pulled up for the mediocre tally of form.
(Editor’s note: This occurrence was recorded up of the Hobart limb of the FIH Pro League games)
Host: Reuben Joe Joseph
Guest: Uthra Ganesan, The Hindu’s hockey correspondent
Producer: Jude Weston
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