The
Hong Kong Hockey Association (HKHA) was founded in 1933.
The inaugural meeting was held on 22nd June 1933 when
it was reported that hockey had already made tremendous
strides over the past few years but needed a central body
to look after the interests of the game and to seek affiliation
with the English Hockey Association, which was duly achieved
by 1935.
The
first AGM was held on 31st July 1934 when they looked
back on their first year with the President, E. W. Hamilton
stating they felt fully justified in having set up the
Association. At that time there were 150 teams, both men
and women, with some 2,500 players.
As
there were only 16 grounds (mainly military grounds) it
was agreed to write to Government to ask for more. So
hockey was already flourishing in Hong Kong over 70 years
ago. Club de Recreio is the only surviving club from those
days.
The
HKHA became affiliated to the Asian Hockey Federation
and the International Hockey Federation in 1950. The HKHA
is also affiliated to the Sports Federation & Olympic
Committee of Hong Kong, China.
The men's league comprised two divisions in 1950, three
in 1961, four in 1981 and five in 1985. A Premier division
was introduced in the Men's league in 2003-2004. In the
1953-54 season, there were 9 teams in the Men's 1st Division,
11 in the Men's 2nd Division and 10 in the Ladies' league.
In the 2003-2004 season, there were a total of 63 men's
teams in six divisions and 38 women's teams in five divisions.
In
the 1950's, the game was dominated by the armed forces,
notably Army A. The power shifted to Recreio A in the
1960's, and Nav Bharat A in the 1970's. Shaheen became
the dominant force from the late 1980's.
Hong
Kong's first exposure to hockey at the highest level was
in 1958 when it hosted the visit of the India and Pakistan
National Teams who were on their way home after the Asian
Games in Tokyo.
Capacity
crowds witnessed the brilliant skills of the Indian and
Pakistani players in matches played at the former Sookunpoo
Army Ground. Pakistan defeated Hong Kong 7-0. The second
day saw Hong Kong being overwhelmed by India by a massive
22-1. India repeated the feat the next day blanking Nav
Bharat 21-0.
The
local hero in the game against Pakistan undoubtedly was
Slawee Kadir, the Hong Kong goalkeeper. Slawee's brilliant
display between the posts kept Pakistan from scoring time
and again.
Four
years later, in 1962, the Hong Kong team participated
in its first ever international tournament, the Asian
Games in Jakarta. Hong Kong lost to India by a very respectable
0-4 and Malaysia (0-4), but caused a major upset by defeating
Korea, the 1958 Asian Games Bronze medallists, by 2 goals
to nil.
1964
saw Hong Kong participating in its first ever Olympics
Games. Hong Kong, who were placed 2nd reserves, found
themselves in Tokyo after France (replaced by Rhodesia)
and Poland pulled out. That first ever hockey Olympic
team included three Sikhs, Kuldip
Singh, Sarinder Singh Dillon
and Harnam Singh Grewal.
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