Indian hockey, Germany, Dhyan Chand — it is a combination that is a significant part of the sport’s history in the country. At the venue named after the greatest ever to have played for India, Harmanpreet Singh and Co will take on reigning World Champions and Paris 2024 silver medallists Germany in a two-match bilateral series. Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi will witness the return of international hockey for the first time since 2014.
While the Indian men’s team last played a match at this venue 3,930 days ago, only three members of the current squad – Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh and Amit Rohidas – were part of the playing group. Interestingly, there is one more name in the Indian set up now who has the experience of playing there: Head Coach Craig Fulton.
The South African made his international debut at the Indira Gandhi Gold Cup in 1995, before going on to represent them at the Olympics twice. For him to lead India at the very venue 29 years later, marks a full circle moment.
Hockey historian K Arumugam actually got Fulton nostalgic during the pre-event press conference, when he showed him a printout of a team photograph that was taken back then. Fulton then took photos of the image with Arumugam. “In South Africa’s final match of the tournament against Poland, Fulton scored the first goal and was declared man of the match in a 4-1 win. And for that, he was given a colour television set. It used to be a luxury item back then,” Arumugam recalled, adding he wondered what Fulton did with the TV set.
“It’s a special feeling to be back at this iconic venue, where my international journey began nearly three decades ago,” Fulton said. “To return here, but this time as the coach of the Indian national team, is truly remarkable.”
For captain Harmanpreet, this will be the first match in national colours at the national stadium but it still holds a special place. “Back in 2013, I was part of the junior camp held here, and I spent countless hours training and honing my skills at this very stadium. It played an important role in my development as a player, so returning here to play an international match feels like a special homecoming,” he said.
Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh. (PHOTO: Hockey India)
While every player who interacted with the media spoke about the excitement of playing in Delhi, a couple of issues stood out: the scheduling and timing of the matches. With the games to be played in the middle of the week at 3 pm, it remains to be seen if enough fans could be compelled into attending, despite free tickets.
The series is seen as the curtain raiser for the 18th Asia Pacific conference of German business. It is being held alongside the visit of the German chancellor Olaf Scholz and vice-chancellor Robert Habeck. With the governments also involved in the organisation of this series, and key delegates expected to attend at least the second match, the pushback times have been kept in the afternoon on both days. Asked about playing in the afternoon instead of prime time under the floodlights, Fulton – fittingly – was diplomatic in his response.
Hockey India Chief Coach Craig Fulton and Captain Harmanpreet Singh during Press Conference a day before 1st game of the PFC India vs Germany Bilateral Hockey Series 2024 at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, in New Delhi on Tuesday. EXPRESS PHOTO BY PRAVEEN KHANNA
“In terms of behind-the-scenes decisions for the timings, there must obviously be a good reason for it. Because of the bilateral nature, governments are also involved with deciding when these matches take place,” Fulton said. “In terms of the heat, well, we have been in Bengaluru the last week for our camp and it rained pretty much the whole time, it was really wet. So we are actually quite excited about the afternoon heat, to get some sun. But it is a great opportunity to play a world class team in Delhi, it’s been a long time for the national team. What an opposition, should be two great games.”
Robert Habeck, Vice-Chancellor of Germany, is scheduled to watch the second game between the two teams on Thursday.
As for the German squad, it’s not the same team that won silver in Paris, but India had played a similar group in the Pro League earlier this year. Five members of the Olympics squad are present, but star goalscorer Gonzalo Peillat is not one of them. But Fulton underlined that Germany are not just the current World Cup winners but also reigning junior World Champions so even a young squad will pose a stiff test. India, too, are without some familiar names with vice-captain Hardik Singh, Jugraj Singh, and Uttam Singh all out injured.
In terms of the rivalry, India vs Germany is as good as it gets in the modern context. At the Tokyo Olympics, India defeated Germany to win a bronze ending a 41-year wait. At the Paris Olympics, Germany broke India’s hearts in the semifinals. The stakes won’t be nearly as high over these two matches. But hockey will take centerstage once more in the national capital at the venue where the statue of the greatest ever to play the sport for India will welcome diplomats and, hopefully, more than a few hundred fans.
