Field hockey is a game which is filled with energy and it involves a lot of running. The major tournaments in this sport are many, but as a player everyone has certain tournaments that they want to win for sure.
The Hockey world cup is held once in four year. The first world cup was held in the year 1971. The world cup comes in between the Olympics years. This is the most coveted tournament and every team wants to lift this trophy and be called as the world champions.
The Olympics has been the main event when it comes to all forms of sports. Hockey as a sport was added to the Olympics list only in the year 1908. This was then again dropped from the list as there were not enough infrastructures to the game. Later in the year 1928 it was again reinstated and has been a coveted medal which all hockey playing countries vie for.
Champion’s trophy is another brain child of Pakistan after the world cup. Here the hockey playing neighbors compete with each other in the round robin format of the game and this is an event held yearly by the FIH. The year was 1978 when Pakistan finally introduced their new idea for this tournament and they hosted the event as well.
For the Asian countries the Asian games and the Asia cup are two more main events. This is the time when they compete with their neighbors and arch rivals to prove to the world that who is the best in Asia.
Another tournament which is vital is the Sultan Azlan Shah cup. This is a tournament which is held in Malaysia. It is believed that the sultan was an ardent fan of hockey and so he started this tournament in the year 1983. It started as a tournament to be held once every two years but then was upgraded and made a yearly event.
The world champion’s challenge is a great tournament to improve the game of the newly hockey playing countries. In the world cup and Olympics many countries play and get rankings. This is a tournament held to help the teams which rank between 7 and 12. They get a chance to compete and improve their game and rankings.
Among the European countries, the determination and dedication when it comes to hockey is unbelievable. Their main event is the Euro cup where they want to out do each other in the game of hockey.
The Americas cup is the one tournament for which the American hockey teams wait. It is their main hockey tournament. Of late many new tournaments have come into existence. The latest being the Indoor world cup for men and women.
The common wealth games hockey tournament is a tournament which draws lots of crowds as well. This event is played among the common wealth countries and all hockey playing countries practice and plan to win this one at all costs.
The tournaments are in plenty and if you are a hockey fan you can watch a lot of hockey all round the year. Each country’s hockey board decides on how much hockey should the team play and which major tournaments would they like to participate and win.