Pakistan Olympic Association

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is the national governing body of sport of Hockey in the Country. PHF is affiliated with the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

In 1948, after having been affiliated with the FIH, the PHF started its activities. Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan and Mr. Baseer Ali Sheikh were the first President and Honorary Secretary of the PHF. In the meantime Pakistan Hockey Team participated in various international events and it gained tremendous recognition.

From 1978 onwards, national and international activities of National Senior, National Junior and Women Hockey Teams were increased manifolds. PHF introduced the World Cup and the Champion Trophy Tournaments, which are now rated next to the Olympics.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation came into being in 1948, following the independence of Pakistan in 1947. Prior to this players from what is now Pakistan had competed internationally alongside players from what is now India. In the beginning, the Federation's membership included the Provincial Hockey/Sports Associations of West Punjab, East Bengal, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Bahawalpur & Services Sports Board. Pakistan played their first international in London when they defeated Belgium 2-1 in 14th Olympic Games hockey tournament on 2 August 1948.

The first President of PHF was Ghazanfar Ali Khan with Baseer Ali Sheikh as Honorary Secretary. The Pakistan national side soon established a strong reputation in international competition, helping to maintain interest in the game in Pakistan which assisted the growth of the Federation. However, no full-time central office or secretariat, as such, was established until the 1960s.

The office of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, located in National Hockey Stadium, Lahore, Lahore, was developed into a Secretariat in 1971. It was during the second term as president of Air Marshal Nur Khan from 1978 that Pakistani hockey entered something of a golden age. National Senior, National Junior and Women Hockey Teams were all competing internationally, increasing the work load of PHF Office and secretary Brigadier M. H. Atif tremendously.

On the personal initiative of Air Marshal M. Nur Khan, the FIH introduced the World Cup Tournament and the Champions Trophy Tournament, which are now rated amongst the major international tournaments, alongside the Olympics. At this time, Pakistan held all the major titles in men's international hockey.

However, the 1976 Olympics in Montreal had seen the introduction of artificial turf to international hockey competition. Pakistan was unable to build as many of the new pitches as the European nations or Australia and New Zealand and so the strength of the national side declined. It was after a lapse of 12 years that the Pakistan Hockey Team again started climbing and won the Champions Trophy and the World Cup with Air Vice Marshal Farooq Umar as president and Colonel Mudassar as secretary of the Federation.

International Achievements:

World Cup:

• Pakistan won the World Cup four times in 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994 respectively.
• Pakistan also won two times Silver medalist in 1975 and 1990.

Olympics Medals:

• In 1956, Pakistan won one Silver medal
• In 1960, Pakistan achieved one Gold medal
• In 1964, Pakistan won one Silver medal
• In 1968, Pakistan achieved one Gold medal
• In 1972, Pakistan achieved one Silver medal
• In 1976, Pakistan won one Bronze medal
• In 1984, Pakistan achieved one Gold medal
• In 1992, Pakistan won one Bronze medal.

Champion Trophy:

• Pakistan won three times Champions Trophy in 1978, 1980 and 1994 respectively.
• Pakistan stands six times Silver medalist in 1983, 1984, 1988, 1991, 1996 and 1998.
• Pakistan Hockey team also stands six times Bronze medalists in 1986, 1992, 1995, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Asian Games:

• Pakistan won eight times Asian Games in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1990 & 2010.
• Pakistan stands two times Silver medalists in 1966 and 1986.
• Pakistan stands three times bronze medalists in 1994, 1998 and 2006.

Commonwealth Games:

• In 2002, Pakistan won one Bronze medal.
• In 2006, Pakistan obtained one Silver medal.

Miscellaneous