At the recently concluded Senior Men’s National Championship, Indian men’s coach Craig Fulton was a keen observer. His mission was clear — to scout talent for the national hockey squad. While he appreciated the quality shown by the top teams, he also raised an important concern.
“Some regions were definitely stronger than others. Punjab, for instance, stood out with the highest number of international players, which gave them an edge. At the same time, there was a healthy balance of talent across the top four teams. Beyond that, however, the depth and overall quality did dip a bit..”
Fulton’s comment brings to light a persistent challenge in Indian hockey — talent is concentrated in specific regions, while the rest struggles to match up. With 30 teams participating, the question is: how do we raise the overall standard of Indian hockey?
India is currently in a great position on the global stage. The team is dominant in Asia and considered a top-tier nation internationally. With a bronze medal from Tokyo 2020 and rising consistency, the momentum is real. But if India wants to take the next step — Olympic gold, consistent podium finishes, or even dominating world hockey — it needs bench strength.
As Fulton said in a media interaction with Hockey India:
“We’ve been speaking about creating depth for a while now. The next 18 months are crucial in building a squad with sufficient bench strength.”
Read More: The Numbers Game: Highlights from 15th Senior Men’s Nationals
The Need for a Long-Term Vision
Bridging the gap between Division A and lower divisions won’t happen overnight. It demands a structured, long-term approach focused on the next 5–10 years — not just quick fixes. This vision must include a clear pathway to identify, nurture, and elevate talent across all levels and regions.
Countries that were once seen as outsiders in global sport — like Belgium in hockey, Japan in rugby, and the Netherlands in football — transformed their fortunes through long-term thinking and system-level changes. Their strategies provide powerful examples India can learn from.
Let’s break down these approaches:
Belgium’s Blueprint: Centralized Talent Pipeline
Belgium’s rise in world hockey began with a centralized effort to nurture young talent. Regional federations conducted junior competitions, and invited standout players — as young as 12 or 13 to national camps focused purely on development.
These camps emphasized skill-building, coaching consistency, and physical preparation — all under the direct supervision of the national federation. Over time, this produced a core of highly trained players who would go on to win Olympic gold and a World Cup.
India can replicate this by creating a national-level development program that draws from all corners of the country, not just traditional strongholds. A centralized pipeline ensures promising players from Division B and C states also get access to world-class training and exposure.
Japan’s Playbook: Regional High-Performance Centers
While centralized camps are effective, they can only accommodate a limited number of athletes. To scale development nationwide, Japan built regional High-Performance Centers (HPCs) — hubs that combine elite coaching, modern facilities, and sports science support.
India can adopt a similar model. By establishing 5–6 regional HPCs, especially in areas with underrepresented teams, Hockey India can give more players access to structured development. These centers can focus specifically on uplifting the level of Divisions B and C — with clear benchmarks, video analysis, strength training, and nutrition support.
This also reduces the burden on central academies and ensures talent doesn’t overlook due geography or infrastructure gaps.
The England Approach: Supporting Players Beyond the Game
In India, many young players see hockey as a path to a better life, often through jobs under sports quota. But the truth is, not everyone makes it to the top level.
England’s football academies have tackled this challenge well. Clubs like Chelsea and Southampton ensure their young players continue with education and learn life skills alongside training. The idea is to prepare them for life — whether they succeed in sport.
India can take a similar approach within its High-Performance Centers, especially for players from Divisions B and C. By offering education, skill-building, and career support, the system becomes more secure, inclusive, and future-ready- which in turn increases commitment from players, knowing they have a future beyond sport.
Netherlands’ Model: Coaching the Coach
A long-term vision isn’t just about players — it starts with coaches. In the Netherlands, a unified coaching philosophy is taught through nationwide programs like the KNVB Academy in football. Coaches are trained not just on tactics, but on values, methodology, and how to develop young players systematically.
India’s current domestic coaching philosophy varies regions to regions and coaches to coaches. Many coaches bring their own styles, often emphasizing individual flair over structure or fitness. To truly raise the standard, India needs a “Coach the Coach” initiative — where coaches from every division are trained in a shared hockey philosophy, equipped with modern tools and systems.
A unified coaching approach means that coaches across the country will train players — no matter their background — under the same tactical and physical framework, making it easier for players to transition into higher levels.
Looking Ahead: The Time to Start is Now
India has big sporting ambitions — bidding for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and potentially hosting the 2036 Olympics. By the time these events arrive, we will have a completely new generation of players.
But if we want to stand on the podium at home, we need to act today. That means bridging the gap between top-tier and lower-tier hockey, developing talent across all regions, and investing in the systems that support both players and coaches.
Because the next great Indian hockey player shouldn’t only come from Punjab or Odisha — they should be able to come from anywhere.
India’s hockey potential is vast, but regional disparities in talent development need urgent attention. Punjab’s dominance highlights the need for a more inclusive approach to nurture players across all regions. The success of countries like Belgium shows what long-term planning can achieve. India must focus on grassroots development to bridge the gap. How can we ensure equal opportunities for aspiring players in less prominent regions?