It seems like Hockey India (HI) has roughly zeroed in on Graham Reid’s successor as chief coach of the Indian males’s workforce. South African Craig Fulton has emerged because the possible successor of the Australian, who led India to its first Olympic medal in 41 years.
“Despite the fact that it’s not confirmed but, Fulton seems more likely to take up the job,” an official within the Indian hockey setup mentioned on situation of anonymity.
Fulton is at present an assistant coach with Olympic champions Belgium, who additionally completed runners-up on the World Cup in Odisha in January.
Fulton turned a possible candidate for the India job as a result of not like him most high coaches are contracted with groups until the 2024 Paris Olympics. “I don’t know if he’s going or not however I perceive the scenario. His contract was from the 2018 World Cup to the 2023 World Cup which is why in all probability he turned a non-controversial selection contract-wise,” an official within the Belgium hockey setup mentioned.
Fulton can also be a coach with Belgian membership KHC Dragons and guided Racing to the Belgian hockey league title final 12 months. “The league will get over on Could 15 so it’s potential that he might depart earlier than it’s over,” mentioned the Belgium official.
A former worldwide who performed 191 matches for South Africa from 1996 to 2005, the 48-year-old additionally performed within the 1996 and 2004 Olympics and the 2002 World Cup.
After teaching stints in a number of golf equipment in England, Eire and South Africa, Fulton turned the Eire head coach in 2014. He guided Eire to bronze on the 2015 EuroHockey Championship and helped them qualify for each the 2016 Rio Olympics – their first because the 1908 London Olympics – and the 2018 World Cup. He was additionally named the 2015 FIH Males’s Coach of the 12 months.
After his four-year stint with Eire, Fulton joined Belgium as an assistant to go coach Shane McLeod in 2018, serving to them win the World Cup in Bhubaneswar later that 12 months. He was additionally a part of the Belgian outfit that received the Tokyo Olympics gold and silver on the 2023 World Cup in Odisha.
Fulton’s brother Grant and spouse Natalie have been additionally South Africa internationals.
In the meantime, in Bengaluru, interim coaches David John and BJ Kariappa have joined the India camp and have began coaching the workforce beginning Wednesday. It has been learnt that Reid’s last day of the one-month discover interval was Tuesday. Reid give up after India’s disappointing present on the World Cup in January the place the hosts completed joint ninth – the worst present by a bunch nation.
“He didn’t come to apply the final two days and informed us that his return ticket is confirmed and he will likely be flying out in a few days,” mentioned an India participant.
The workforce will prepare in Bengaluru until March 6 earlier than travelling to Rourkela the place they may play Professional League matches towards newly topped world champions Germany and Tokyo Olympics silver medallists Australia from March 10 to fifteen.