India revive Paris Olympics formula with Paddy Upton ahead of men's Hockey World Cup
India's men's hockey team will travel to Switzerland for a three-day camp with Paddy Upton before the World Cup. The move brings back the Paris Olympics mental-conditioning template as Craig Fulton pushes trust, role clarity and selection pressure.
The Indian men's hockey team is set to undergo a specialised training programme in Switzerland later this month as part of its preparations for the upcoming Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The three-day camp will take place at mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton's training facility, located at adventurer Mike Horn's base in the Swiss Alps. Designed to sharpen the squad's mental resilience and team cohesion, the programme mirrors the approach India adopted in the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
That earlier camp proved to be a successful exercise, with India going on to secure a second consecutive Olympic bronze medal. The team is expected to depart for Switzerland before beginning its World Cup campaign.
"We have had a team building camp before we went for the Pro League and we have another now. We will go to Switzerland, we have a programme with Paddy Upton lined up for 2-3 days and we are looking forward to that," India's chief coach Craig Fulton told PTI.
"That's what we did and focussed on before Paris and we will create a similar environment but with different approach and objectives because we have a different team.
"The key is always about chemistry and building trust and connection in the group, ensuring everyone knows their role, the belief is strong and the trust is even stronger," the South African added.
Upton has been working closely with the Indian team under Fulton and was part of the backroom staff during the Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir.
ALL IN UPTON'S HANDS
Upton joined the Indian men's hockey team's support staff in 2023 following the disappointing home World Cup campaign. Then head coach Graham Reid had identified the need for a mental conditioning specialist, and his successor Craig Fulton retained that approach by bringing in his fellow South African. The move soon paid dividends, with India securing an Olympic bronze medal in Paris.
He played a big role in India's Asia Cup 2025 win when they ground out results at times to get to the trophy. When asked if it was a high intense programme, Fulton said that he has left in all in the hands of Upton.
"I really don't know, it's Paddy who is designing the programme and we will get to know about it after reaching there," said Fulton.
Fulton is taking a perfect mix of youth and experience for the World Cup and is happy to seeing that the players aren't taking their places for granted.
"It's the same for all players. Every single player has to perform and do their job. Manpreet (Singh) has been a journey man for long time now but he is eager and as hungry as ever, he is still adding value.
"He has to do his job and everyone else will have to do their job. They should be accountable for what their role is doesn't matter you are 19 or 35," he said.
"At the same time we are trying to keep the squad competition high and for that you need some good strong youth and also you need some experience at the World Cup and Asian Games level to get the job done."
India's focus will then shift to the Hockey World Cup, scheduled to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30. The tournament will be followed by the Asian Games in Japan from September 19 to October 4, with the continental event also serving as a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Indian men's hockey team is set to undergo a specialised training programme in Switzerland later this month as part of its preparations for the upcoming Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The three-day camp will take place at mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton's training facility, located at adventurer Mike Horn's base in the Swiss Alps. Designed to sharpen the squad's mental resilience and team cohesion, the programme mirrors the approach India adopted in the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
That earlier camp proved to be a successful exercise, with India going on to secure a second consecutive Olympic bronze medal. The team is expected to depart for Switzerland before beginning its World Cup campaign.
"We have had a team building camp before we went for the Pro League and we have another now. We will go to Switzerland, we have a programme with Paddy Upton lined up for 2-3 days and we are looking forward to that," India's chief coach Craig Fulton told PTI.
"That's what we did and focussed on before Paris and we will create a similar environment but with different approach and objectives because we have a different team.
"The key is always about chemistry and building trust and connection in the group, ensuring everyone knows their role, the belief is strong and the trust is even stronger," the South African added.
Upton has been working closely with the Indian team under Fulton and was part of the backroom staff during the Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir.
ALL IN UPTON'S HANDS
Upton joined the Indian men's hockey team's support staff in 2023 following the disappointing home World Cup campaign. Then head coach Graham Reid had identified the need for a mental conditioning specialist, and his successor Craig Fulton retained that approach by bringing in his fellow South African. The move soon paid dividends, with India securing an Olympic bronze medal in Paris.
He played a big role in India's Asia Cup 2025 win when they ground out results at times to get to the trophy. When asked if it was a high intense programme, Fulton said that he has left in all in the hands of Upton.
"I really don't know, it's Paddy who is designing the programme and we will get to know about it after reaching there," said Fulton.
Fulton is taking a perfect mix of youth and experience for the World Cup and is happy to seeing that the players aren't taking their places for granted.
"It's the same for all players. Every single player has to perform and do their job. Manpreet (Singh) has been a journey man for long time now but he is eager and as hungry as ever, he is still adding value.
"He has to do his job and everyone else will have to do their job. They should be accountable for what their role is doesn't matter you are 19 or 35," he said.
"At the same time we are trying to keep the squad competition high and for that you need some good strong youth and also you need some experience at the World Cup and Asian Games level to get the job done."
India's focus will then shift to the Hockey World Cup, scheduled to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30. The tournament will be followed by the Asian Games in Japan from September 19 to October 4, with the continental event also serving as a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Indian men's hockey team is set to undergo a specialised training programme in Switzerland later this month as part of its preparations for the upcoming Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The three-day camp will take place at mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton's training facility, located at adventurer Mike Horn's base in the Swiss Alps. Designed to sharpen the squad's mental resilience and team cohesion, the programme mirrors the approach India adopted in the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
That earlier camp proved to be a successful exercise, with India going on to secure a second consecutive Olympic bronze medal. The team is expected to depart for Switzerland before beginning its World Cup campaign.
"We have had a team building camp before we went for the Pro League and we have another now. We will go to Switzerland, we have a programme with Paddy Upton lined up for 2-3 days and we are looking forward to that," India's chief coach Craig Fulton told PTI.
"That's what we did and focussed on before Paris and we will create a similar environment but with different approach and objectives because we have a different team.
"The key is always about chemistry and building trust and connection in the group, ensuring everyone knows their role, the belief is strong and the trust is even stronger," the South African added.
Upton has been working closely with the Indian team under Fulton and was part of the backroom staff during the Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir.
ALL IN UPTON'S HANDS
Upton joined the Indian men's hockey team's support staff in 2023 following the disappointing home World Cup campaign. Then head coach Graham Reid had identified the need for a mental conditioning specialist, and his successor Craig Fulton retained that approach by bringing in his fellow South African. The move soon paid dividends, with India securing an Olympic bronze medal in Paris.
He played a big role in India's Asia Cup 2025 win when they ground out results at times to get to the trophy. When asked if it was a high intense programme, Fulton said that he has left in all in the hands of Upton.
"I really don't know, it's Paddy who is designing the programme and we will get to know about it after reaching there," said Fulton.
Fulton is taking a perfect mix of youth and experience for the World Cup and is happy to seeing that the players aren't taking their places for granted.
"It's the same for all players. Every single player has to perform and do their job. Manpreet (Singh) has been a journey man for long time now but he is eager and as hungry as ever, he is still adding value.
"He has to do his job and everyone else will have to do their job. They should be accountable for what their role is doesn't matter you are 19 or 35," he said.
"At the same time we are trying to keep the squad competition high and for that you need some good strong youth and also you need some experience at the World Cup and Asian Games level to get the job done."
India's focus will then shift to the Hockey World Cup, scheduled to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30. The tournament will be followed by the Asian Games in Japan from September 19 to October 4, with the continental event also serving as a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
