Hockey team's mission 2026 begins in earnest

IN the morning after the night before, the warm afterglow of a big win can tend to fade. Players may add some context or coaches could point to bigger challenges once they have safely tucked away their shiny metal discs. But Craig Fulton didn't even wait till Monday to provide context and perspective to India's Asia Cup win in Rajgir.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN @Patna

Speaking to media in the mixed zone even as his wards lined up to pose with the trophy for the gram, he said: "there's two different types of hockey," when replying to a question on 'the floor and ceiling of the team at his disposal'. "There's Asian hockey and then there's European hockey. All the power sits in Europe, in a way, and, obviously, Australia." It's true; in each of the last seven World Cups going back to 1998, the final has featured an all European clash or Australia facing one European outfit. The Olympics is a similar story. Going back the last 10 Games, eight finals has feat