Indian men’s head coach Craig Fulton has said that the upcoming Hockey Asia Cup is the flagship event for the hosts, and it’s the last chance for his team to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

While speaking at the pre-match press conference, Fulton said, "This is our flagship event of the year, so we are putting everything into this tournament. We want to grow in the tournament but at the same time the prize is big -- direct qualification — and that’s what we are after."

The head coach also said that the side has not won a title for a long time, and if they manage to clinch the Hockey Asia Cup 2025, it will help the team to set the programme.