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Name : Ahsan Ullah

Roll No : 20-11296
Section : J
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Decline of Hockey in Pakistan

 When did decline started

 What are the less known reasons behind decline

 Difference in the infrastructure and structure of 60s, 70s and 80s and

of now

 What are the Ways to improve hockey

Abstract:

Key Words:
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Literature Review

Hockey is one of the fastest games in the world right now with the Astroturf’s

introduction it has got a bit more pace and extra stamina is required now but Pakistan’s

players are lacking that. Teams in the international arena are super fit these days

fitness level of players is not matching to the international teams and after 2000. And so

on playing style has changed it has got move pace but we are still playing with the style

of 60s, 70s and 80s where dribbling skill were important now its all about coming up

with new ideas everyday with your team formations and speed also which we are

lacking technically and tactically in game now another major problem is coaching staff

hockey team is not equipped with modern day coaching staff and management in

international stage your have to come up with a new plan to every team on everyday

playing style formation technique tactically you have to be one step head of other but

coaching staff with our team right now is deficient in all these new techniques.

The decline of Hockey is not sudden it had started when Pakistan lost final of

world cup to Holland in 1990 but it regained it reputation for sometime in 1994 when we

become world champion fourth time but it was the time when decline started with young

players not that good to which they could beat any team in world the legacy which

players like Hassan Sardar Samiullah Kalim Ullah and so on was not blossomed with

good enough players it was time when Pakistan Cricket team won the world cup in 1992

and cricket started taking our national sport’s (hockey) place since then we have not

won any major trophy When we look at the difference between the structure of 70s and

80s and compose it with which is existing wow there comes a good reason why

Pakistan hockey is declining it was government support behind hockey and structure
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which supported us at that time everyone was given incentive to play hockey and

structure which support behind hockey and structure which supported us at that time

everyone was given incentive to play hockey president Ayub khan was the one who

really liked hockey and supported it everyway he could it was under his tenure Pakistan

won first championship when our hockey structure was good now there is not enough

support from Government Funds are not given to federation or Funds are being used

properly corruption is also a major factor why our federation (Hockey) is at this stage No

Real incentives are given to young generation to kike and play hockey even our

international players are not given enough salaries. Hockey is our national supports and

we have gained glory which nobody can match us till now 4 world caps and 3 Olympic

tittles now we are not even qualifying for world cup we have to improve from this

situation key thing we have to do is to focus on our fitness as much as possible because

it is key to success and another isolation is to we have to change our style of playing

because it is certainly not working well and change the management foreign coaches

should be given priority as they know what’s the requirement of today’s hockey and at

last hockey requires support from whole country media, government, federation and

educational institutes and well .

INTRODUCTION

Hockey is one of the fastest game in the world where your are tested mentally

physically and tactically for whole 70 minutes of the game. Pakistan has dominated

hockey for decades but now the graph of Pakistan hockey is decreasing by every single

day. Hockey is also national sport of Pakistan. It is too important for us to ignore this

situation right now. Pakistan rank 14th in FIH ranking. For a country which was use to
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winning World cup, champion trophies and Asian championship tournaments. It is really

sad not to win any tournament for last 24 years. Measures have to be taken to achieve

its lost glory. Pakistan hockey was one of the best team in the World and has produced

many legends of the game. Islahudin, Samiuillah , Kalimullah , Hassan sardar, Sohail

Abbass and many more. But now situation is quite alarming as we didn't qualifies for

hockey world cup 2014 and rio Olympics 2016.

Start of Decline

Decline of Pakistan hockey is not quite sudden it was slow, gradual and

noticeable it started from 1991 when 11 of our international players got banned for life

but after sometime due to efforts of our Government ban was reduced to 3 years for

blaming referee for cheating in final match in 1991 although it regained its glory in 1994

by winning world cup but it was the time most of star players got retired after world cup

and since then we have not won any world championship by the time style, technique

and playing condition such as playing field were getting modernized and we were very

slow o adopt those circumstances. Countries like Ireland, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, etc

were far behind us but they started working on their hockey structure and their efforts

have resulted them with better results in modern day hockey and they are ranked better

than Pakistan today.

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Reasons behind decline of Modern day hockey and Pakistan

Hockey is one of the fastest games in the world right now and with introduction of

astro turf it has got more pace physical fitness became most important aspect of the

game, 10 to20 percent extra stamina is required to complete with international standard

which Pakistan lacks significantly. Hockey one of main reason behind decline is that

even after two decades of introduction of astro turf we have not changed our style of

playing that is typical asian hockey it is very difficult for you in such a fast pace game

with man marking to survive with asian style that relies on individual skills and dribbling

ability when you look at why european countries are playing better hockey then us

because they are extremely fit.

1. Political Involment

Another major reason behind our decline in hockey is involvement of politics in

game. Ex olympians through their political approach remain in PHF (Pakistan Hockey

Federation) and not doing their jobs sincerely. Selfish culture is being promoted and

people with less knowledge of game are holding key position in PHF. Merit has been

ruined personal liking and disliking have emerged due to which selection is not done on

merit. Since selection is not on merit. How can team Pakistan perform well in the

tournament or foreign tours.

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2. Role of educational institutes

Role of educational institutes is significant in decline of hockey in Pakistan when

Pakistan hold the glory of being most successful team in the world most of the players

were picked from educational institutes. Educational institutes provided opportunities for

young boys to show their hidden talent but now there are not enough co curricular

activities held in institutes students have not learned to express themselves due to

which it has played a major role in decline playing areas in institutes has reduced.

Infrastructure of education has changed due to which students are more indulged in

studies then to sports which has played a significant role in decline of national Sports.

educationalist.com.pk

3. Lack of infrastructure

Lack of infrastructure is one the major reason behind decline of our national

Sport. PHF is run by people who do not know modern day game technical and tactical

intelligent people are nor appointed on their respective job areas which is need of the

hour because in modern hockey, you have to come up with new ideas, formation and

techniques to win matches because in modern day hockey or any sports homework is

done on each and every player to hold them. Secondly lack of astro turf as playing field

in the country only 3 grounds with astro turf are available till now even after the 20 years

of introduction of astro turf as playing field for a country of population of around 200

million which is certainly not enough by any means.

When local players don’t have access to grounds how they are going to get better.
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Difference in the infrastructure on 70s, 80s and 90s and nfrastructures

of today’s hockey

There is a big difference in the infrastructure and structure of hockey of 70s, 80s

and 90s and now when Pakistan won most of trophies playing field used was grass but

in modern day hockey astro turf is used. Old hockey was all about dribbling skills and

understanding of the game but now with introduction of astro turf game has hot more

pace and extra stamina is required to meet international standards.

When Pakistan team won trophies government support was their but new

government seems to have no interest in national sports players. Ayub Khan was

famous to have liking for hockey and disliking for cricket during his tenure Pakistan

flourished and won titles because management and infrastructure was better and

everyone was responsible for his actions. Work was done on grass root level and

grounds were available but now because in modern day hockey astro turf is used which

are very few I the country about 3 to 4 which are of international standard and no work

is done on grass root level whatsoever.

Ways to improve

 Hockey league

 Better fitness level

 Selection on merit

Pakistan Hockey Legend Shahbaz Ahmed Senior said" Pakistan

hockey league imparative for the revival of hockey at home and to get
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greater bunch of place to get selection on merit. Hockey league is the need

of hour" Hockey league is very useful because it helps local players to

become stars. It allow younger players to play with the best player of the

World which grooms young players. Different countries hold the leagues

and it has given them beneficent results for example India has his own

Hockey league and they have show good results in past few years they

ranked 6th in the current FIH rankings. Leagues not only helps young

players to develop but also make them financially strong as professionals.

Foreign Coaches.

European countries are dominating hockey in this era. They know the

dynamics of modern hockey with greater understanding and new rules with

Astroturf also help them with their style of play Pakistan also need to hire

foreign coaches because the style with which are own former player have

played is not longer useful we have to adopt new style of modern hockey

and this can be done by hiring foreign coaches.

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Resources

Nademm, F Paracha (2014, june 12) Hockey

When we were giants (and then some )
www.dawn.blog.com

(2014,m june,01)
Reason behind our decline in hockey
www.pakpassion.net

Abdullah, Q (2017, 08, 24)

Role of Educational Institutes in Decline Hockey

(2016, Jan,08)
Sohail Ahmed Siddiqi
Pakistan hockey need a lot move attention
www.liverostrum.com

Faizan, L (2017,July,27)
Pakistan hockey hit new low slips to 14th place in FIH rankings
www.geotv.com