National game of Pakistan, Complete Information About Hockey in Pakistan

People in Pakistan Love cricket so it is hard to believe that the national game of Pakistan is hockey, not cricket. Field Hockey is a sport that people in Pakistan hardly talk about it because hockey is not popular in Pakistan as cricket.

Field hockey is a team game with ten players and one goalkeeper. The game usually involves hitting the plastic ball at the opposing team’s net using a long curved stick made from wood.

More than 3 million people play hockey in over 100 different countries. Along with Soccer/Football and Cricket, Field Hockey is the third most-watched sport in the world.

Hockey in Pakistan 

Hockey was brought to the Indian subcontinent by the British like cricket, and quickly hockey became a popular sport among the locals, eventually becoming the national game of Pakistan after its independence.

Pakistan has an organisation named Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) this organisation governs hockey in Pakistan and has been a member of the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

Pakistan also has a women’s national field hockey team which represents Pakistan in international field hockey competitions.

The National Hockey Stadium Lahore is the headquarter of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) which manages both the Pakistan men’s Hockey team and woman’s national Hockey team.

Pakistan hockey team participate in all major international hockey events including Olympics, Asian games, Hockey World cup, and Hockey Champions Trophy.

Pakistan’s achievements in Hockey

Pakistan’s national hockey team has a long history of success, especially in the hockey world cup. Pakistan hockey team won four world cup titles in the years 1971, 1978, 1982, and 1994.

The national hockey team is the most successful in the world cup. Pakistani team has the highest number of world cup titles After that, The Netherlands and Australia have three titles and Germany won two titles.

Pakistan hockey team is the only Asian team that has won three times Hockey Champions Trophy (HCT). Pakistan team is the most successful in the Asian games with eight gold medals: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1990, and 2010.

Pakistan has won 29 official international titles including three gold medals in the Olympic Games in Rome in 1960, Mexico City in 1968, and Los Angeles in 1984.

Field Hockey Stadiums in Pakistan

There are many field hockey grounds in Pakistan. Pakistan also has eight major field hockey stadiums in different cities, including the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore being the most well-known stadium.

The National Hockey Stadium Lahore is the biggest field hockey stadium in the world. It can accommodate 45,000 spectators.

Pakistan has also other stadiums in different cities as well including the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium in Karachi, Army Hockey Stadium in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad Hockey Stadium, Lala Ayub Hockey Stadium in Peshawar, and Sialkot Hockey Stadium.

The Downfall of Hockey in Pakistan

The reason behind the downfall of field hockey in Pakistan is the lack of funds and some blunders of the Pakistan Hockey Federation. Another major reason for the downfall is that hockey is shifted to AstroTurf instead of the Grass.

Hockey has been losing popularity in Pakistan during the last two decades, even though hockey is the national game of Pakistan.

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The government’s attitude toward national sports is unfavourable since the majority of the sports budget is given to cricket while hockey is ignored.

The media is the major reason for the declining popularity of hockey in Pakistan. Because the media is always talking about cricket and football because of their viewership, but not a single channel is talking about this issue.

Furthermore, people began to pay more attention to cricket, while hockey eventually faded. National games failed to capture people’s attention at the grassroots level.

According to survey research, 78% of people think that the main reason behind the downfall of field hockey in Pakistan is the lack of funds.

Current Situation And Future of Hockey in Pakistan

Currently, the Pakistani Hockey Team is ranked 17th by the Federation of International Hockey (FIH), while India’s ranked 6th in the world. 

It is a difficult time for hockey lovers in Pakistan, But luckily Pak Army gives hope to the fans by truly owning it.

Some people suggest that a hockey league similar to a cricket league (PSL) might play an important role at the grassroots level in the revival of hockey in the country.

After the decline of hockey, the (PHF) finally organized an event the National Inter-Club Hockey Championship. The tournament took place at National Hockey Stadium in 2022 July.

Future of Field Hockey in Pakistan

Pakistan Hockey Federation must work hard to bring back field hockey to Pakistan. PHF can promote games at the club levels and rural areas so the local talent will flourish.

PHF can set up a league for young players so that league can work as a platform to revive the lost glory of hockey. Moreover, by competing against foreign players local players will learn skills that can help them in international tournaments.

We should play our part to revive hockey in our country by giving it the same respect as cricket. We should tell the next generation that hockey is our national sport, not cricket.

Some Facts About Field Hockey

More than 3 million people play hockey in over 100 different countries. Along with Soccer/Football and Cricket, Field Hockey is the third most-watched sport in the world.

The popularity of hockey in countries like India, Pakistan, Australia, and New Zealand may be attributed to the British Army’s role in spreading the sport throughout the British Empire.

Hockey is the ancient team sport in the world, dating back over 3000 years to the Greek classical era.

London Olympics In 2012, hockey was the 3rd most-watched sport. Within the last decade, field hockey has seen a rather rapid and drastic change.