The History of Pakistan hockey actually starts with the birth of Indian hockey. There were many stages that hockey in Asia has gone through. The main stage being the partition of India and the formation of Pakistan. This was the time when one single hockey team was also divided into two. While players like Dihan Chand stayed with India; a new generation of players took over the reigns of Pakistani hockey. India maybe the bigger country among the two but when it came to hockey, Pakistan was way ahead.
Pakistan was born on the 14th Of August 1947 and this was round about the same time the history of Pakistan hockey began. The first post-war Olympic was held in the year 1948 in London and this was the first time when Pakistan played as a separate team. They lost the match for the bronze medal. History repeated itself again in the year 1952. With two major setbacks a new way out had to be thought of soon.
An enquiry commission was set up to look into the matter. They produced a report nicknamed the Blueprint of Pakistan Hockey. This report has been used for several years after that to improve Pakistan Hockey. The changes and suggestions made in the report were all accepted and implemented at once. The result of the application of these changes was seen in the year 1956 where Pakistan reached the finals. This silver medal victory was the first time Pakistan announced to arch rivals India and the rest of the world that they were a hockey super power.
The golden era of Pakistan hockey was the three decades between 1956 and 1986. This was the time when the Pakistani hockey team created many new records and achieved many feats which are yet to be broken today. They won the world cup thrice and this was not enough. They won the Olympics Gold medal also thrice. Further they created new record by winning the Asian games six times. The Champions trophy was won for the inaugural two years by Pakistan again. No other hockey playing country has held all the three prestigious awards of the Asian Games, World Cup and Olympics at the same time. This was a record they held not once but twice.
This golden era was unfortunately shattered when within the gap of few days Pakistan lost the world cup and Asian games titles. Their performance in all the major tournaments was very poor and the always managed the last few spots only. India too was facing a slump at this time.
Soon another enquiry was ordered and the remedies suggested this time were also implemented. Somehow Pakistan hockey was jinxed by that time. After that Pakistan hockey has only been in the recovering stages.
After a series of captains and teams the Pakistan team won the world cup for the fourth time during 1994. Now the Pakistan hockey is facing another major slump. They are working with new team members and old management members for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Both Pakistani fans and fans from other Asian countries are hoping and praying that Pakistan should bounce back and grab the hockey gold medal at the Olympics this time round.