India, Sept. 1 -- The Indian hockey team had entered the 2023 World Cup with a weight of expectations on their shoulders. Being the hosts and having won a bronze at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics to end a 41-year medal wait, the pressure of delivering their first Cup medal since 1975 was enormous.

But India exited in the crossovers to finish joint ninth, the worst result for a host at the World Cup. Graham Reid resigned as chief coach amid questions about the team's mental fragility. Before leaving, the Aussie stressed on the need for a mental training expert.

Craig Fulton, who succeeded Reid two months later, concurred and brought in fellow South African and a familiar figure in India, mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton, in July 2023.

Upt...