After a triumphant journey to the final of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023, India's skipper Harmanpreet Singh shed light on the transformative role played by their head coach, Craig Fulton. Under Fulton's guidance, Team India delivered an impeccable performance in the ACT 2023, culminating in a dominant 5-0 semi-final victory over Japan on Friday.
Craig Fulton assumed the mantle of head coach following Graham Reid's resignation, which came in the wake of India's lackluster performance in the World Cup 2023. Under Fulton's leadership, India has witnessed a resurgence, maintaining an unbeaten streak throughout the Asian Champions Trophy.
Harmanpreet, who contributed to the scoreboard during the semi-final, was effusive in his appreciation for Fulton during his post-match interaction with the media. As reported by PTI, Harmanpreet commended the coach's instrumental role in reshaping the team.
Drawing a comparison with past coaches, Harmanpreet stated, "Every coach has a different mentality. Our past coaches have been good. Even he (Fulton) is good. Every coach thinks about the betterment of the team." Highlighting the adaptability of the team, Harmanpreet further added, "He is doing a good job. While we have brought in structural changes in our team, managing it (changes) at such a short notice is a highly positive point for us. All credit to him."
As India prepares for the grand showdown against Malaysia in the finals – a team they convincingly defeated 5-0 in the pool stages – Harmanpreet emphasized the significance of a solid defensive strategy and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. Reflecting on the road to the finals, he said, "It's a great achievement to make it to the final, which would be completely different compared to league matches. It was a good performance (on Friday), as we played according to our plans. We even created our opportunities as per the plans."
Setting the tone for the upcoming final, the skipper asserted, "Our focus would be to stay strong defensively and convert most of our chances."
As India gears up for the final battle in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023, all eyes will be on the team's strategy and performance, hoping that the blend of new tactics and traditional skills will secure them the title.
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