Pakistan Hockey Federation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Pakistan Hockey Federation
پاکستان ہاکی فیڈریشن

Sport	Field hockey
Jurisdiction	Pakistan
Membership	8
Abbreviation	PHF
Founded	2 August 1948
Affiliation	International Hockey Federation (FIH)
Regional affiliation	Asian Hockey Federation (AHF)
Headquarters	Lahore, Pakistan
Location	National Hockey Stadium, Ferozepur Road, Lahore 54600
President	Shehla Raza
Vice president(s)	Muhammad Saeed Khan Maj.Gen.(R) Tariq Haleem Suri, HI (M)
Secretary	Syed Haider Hussain
Official website

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (Urdu: پاکستان ہاکی فیڈریشن) is the main group that looks after the sport of field hockey in Pakistan. It works with big international groups like the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF). The PHF helps organize and promote hockey across Pakistan.

Who Leads the Pakistan Hockey Federation?

The PHF has important leaders who help run the sport. Currently, Syeda Shehla Raza is the President of the PHF. Syed Haider Hussain is the Secretary General. These leaders work to make sure hockey grows and thrives in Pakistan.

How Did Hockey Start in Pakistan?

The game of field hockey came to Pakistan a long time ago. It was brought by the British when they ruled the area. Just like cricket, hockey became very popular with local people.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation officially started in 1948. This was right after Pakistan became an independent country in 1947. Before this, players from Pakistan played alongside players from India.

When the PHF first began, it included hockey groups from different parts of Pakistan. These included Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and the Pakistani Armed Forces.

Pakistan played its first international hockey game in London on August 2, 1948. They won against Belgium 2-1 at the Olympic Games. The first President of PHF was Ghazanfar Ali Khan.

Pakistan's national hockey team quickly became very strong in international games. This helped keep people interested in hockey in Pakistan. It also helped the Federation grow. For a long time, the PHF did not have a full-time office. A proper office was finally set up in 1971 at the National Hockey Stadium.

During the time of Air Marshal Nur Khan as president (starting in 1978), Pakistani hockey had a "golden age." Both the men's and women's national teams played in many international events. Air Marshal Nur Khan also helped create the World Cup and the Champions Trophy. These are now two of the biggest hockey tournaments in the world.

However, in 1976, artificial turf was introduced in international hockey. Pakistan found it hard to build as many artificial turf fields as European countries. Because of this, the national team's strength slowly started to go down.

What is the Pakistan Hockey Super League?

In February 2016, the Pakistan Hockey Federation started planning a new hockey league. This league would be played within Pakistan. The idea was to help young Pakistani hockey players get better. Leaders hoped it would help Pakistan become a top hockey nation again.

An independent group was set up to manage the league in 2016. The PHF President said that the league would be approved by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). This would prevent any problems with other international events. The league was put on hold in 2016 because the government did not give permission.

In December 2017, the Pakistan Hockey Super League - The Max finally got permission. The first season was planned for April 2018. It was then moved to July 2018 because the national team was busy. Also, the month of Ramadan was coming up.

On January 11, 2022, the Pakistan Hockey Federation officially launched the Pakistan Hockey Super League "THE MAX".

Hockey Associations Across Pakistan

The PHF works with many smaller hockey associations. These groups help organize hockey in different parts of Pakistan. They include:

• Azad Jammu and Kashmir Hockey Association
• Balochistan Hockey Association
• Gilgit-Baltistan Hockey Association
• Islamabad Hockey Association
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hockey Association
• Punjab Hockey Association
• Sindh Hockey Association

Who Has Led the PHF?

Many important people have served as Presidents of the PHF over the years. Here is a list of them:

Who Has Been Secretary General of the PHF?

The Secretary General is another very important role in the PHF. Here are the people who have held this position:

See also

• Pakistan Hockey League
• International Tournaments (field hockey)