Asian Games 2018 – Chinese take up sticks in changing face of Hong Kong hockey
The 1962 Jakarta Asian Games squad featured mainly Pakistanis, Indians and Portuguese while the 2018 men’s and women’s side are mostly Chinese
The last time Jakarta hosted the Asian Games, in 1962, the Hong Kong men’s hockey team made up one third of the territory’s 54-strong contingent and featured a multi-ethnic team of Indians, Pakistanis and Portuguese.
Fifty-six years on and Hong Kong’s hockey players are back in Jakarta – men and women – with most of the players local Chinese.
“It’s quite interesting,” said Hong Kong Hockey Association chief Sarinder Dillon. “The first time we went to the Asian Games was way back in 1962 and it was in Jakarta, so I think it’s nice that after all these years, the second time they are hosting the Games, we got both the Hong Kong men’s and women’s teams.
“But the hockey scenario has changed so much since then.”
Back then Hong Kong standing in Asia as a hockey force was much higher. While they were no match for India and Pakistan, they were not far behind.