What Is The History Of Hockey?

A game resembling to hockey was played in Persia about 2000 B.C. The Greeks played this kind of game in the 5th and 6th centuries. B.C. But their rules to playing hockey were different from our rules. Hockey was also played in France in the middle ages.

Many countries of the world started playing modern hockey in the 19th century. It became very popular in Great Britain. It also spread to other European countries and to Australia and New Zealand as well. British soldiers brought this game to the sub-continent when Great Britain occupied this part of the world in the 19th century. Recently an International Women Hockey tournament was held in Lahore in 1996. Pakistani women hockey team also participated in it.

Hockey was included in Olympic Games in 1908 and 1920 and in each Olympics from 1928 onwards. Hockey was also included in Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1952. World Cup for hockey started in 1971 and Champions Trophy was introduced in 1978 by Pakistan.

The countries which have very good hockey teams are Pakistan, India, Germany, Holland, Australia, and South Korea. Some other countries also play hockey but the standard of their hockey is not very high.

Women's teams from many countries took part in Olympic Games in 1980 for the first time. The first Olympic gold medal was won by Women's Hockey Team of Zimbabwe.