Asian Hockey struggles except for India...
Writing this piece after watching the matches in the ongoing Jakarta Asia Cup 2022.
After comparing between the quality of other Continental Championship and following FIH Pro League teams, Asia Cup quality is far far behind in standards. Summary - most Asian teams has lost their competitive edge in World hockey except for India still maintains at top 5 and able to compete with European and Aus/NZ with Arg teams.
Korea was Silver medalist in 2000 Sydney Olympics and ranked no 2 in world hockey but now struggles to return to top 10.
Pakistan was 1994 World Champions and No 1 with consistently playing at Olympic games and failed to qualify to Tokyo Olympics and currently wants to return to world stage.
Malaysia used to be an Olympic nation and last played in 2000 Sydney Olympics and in the last 2018 World Cup exited after 3 matches without any win and finished 15th. At World Cup level best finish no 4 in 1975 & no 8 in 2002 World and winning silver medal at 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Japanese raised their standards due Tokyo Olympics program since 2013 when they were awarded to host it and invested in 2 Junior World Cup cycles 2013 & 2016. They showed promising but at Asia Continental level only and couldn't break into top 10 even winning the 2018 Asian Games Gold and their results didn't reflect well in Tokyo Olympics.
The rest such as Oman, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka merely participation level and the gap is too wide between them and top 5 Asian teams - India Pak Msia Korea and Japan.
On another note, China was doing well in certain Continental events and all of sudden detiorating badly after hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Currently, not participating any events and being stagnant.
The next tier such as Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and others are only good for development level competition and it may take miracle for them to break into Top 8 in Asia and narrow window to play in Olympics and World Cups.
And current Asian Games or Asia Cup championship competitive level has been in low quality compare to 1950s to 2000 where there were 4 teams in Top 10 world ranking such as India, Pak, Korea & Malaysia and minimum there will be 4 Asian Teams in every Olympic cycles but currently only India in Tokyo Olympics either than Japan as host, therefore it indicates that the quality of current Asia Continental Hockey Championship standards is poor compare with European Championship where there is 5 European teams in Top 10 and at least 5 European teams plays in Olympics. Outside European dominance, only Australia, New Zealand and Argentina could compete with them. And France, Ireland & Wales is on the rise and will battle for Paris Olympics. It may end up with 6 European teams in Paris Olympics or 50% participation from Europe.
It's a long winding road for Asian Teams to return to its former glory days. India is maintaining their standards and others such as Pak, Korea, Malaysia and Japan is trying very hard to close the gap but it may take 2 or 3 Olympic cycles.
But I believe Asian Hockey Federation must do more to uplift the standards of Asian Hockey so that one day there will be 4 Asian Teams in Top 10 and minimum 4 Asian teams, consistently playing at Olympics and World Cup levels and imposing a strong challenge to be on podium finish.
It requires a massive transformation by Asian Hockey nations , firstly must get the right person in the right position with modern international hockey knowledge with latest sports science and technology involvement to manage the sports effectively and efficiently.
Thanking you.
Maninderjit Singh
Former International & Secretary General
Malaysian Hockey
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