The sport of hockey has existed since the dawn of humanity. According to some reports, the game dates back as far as 4,000 years. According to legend, hockey was enjoyed long before Jesus Christ was born. The “ball and stick” game, as it is known colloquially, has been played since ancient times in a variety of locations, including Rome, Scotland, Egypt, and South America. Although the game went through many names, the fundamental concept remained the same. The Irish used the term “Hockie,” which was the best one. Despite being created centuries ago, the phrase has made it to the current generation.
According to popular belief, the Irish game “hurling” or the Scotch variation known as “shinty” were the inspirations for hockey. It’s also thought that the game has existed in a number of additional variations. Whether it was the Cheikou played by the European Chilean invaders or the Chinese version known as Beikou. The game is currently one of the most played games worldwide.
In this article, we will take a look at the top five hockey players who have changed the sport and contributed significantly to its history.
- Fergus Kavanagh
Fergus Kavanagh is an Australian field hockey player. Kavanagh, a player for the Australian men’s hockey team, is regarded by many as one of the best hockey players of all time. He competes on the domestic scene for the Western State team in the Australian Hockey League. In the 2010 Delhi Hockey World Cup and the 2014 Hague World Cup, Fergus guided his squad to victories. In the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, he also assisted his team in winning medals. Winning the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was the proudest achievement of his career.
- Ric Charlesworth
Ric Charlesworth participated and represented his side in five Olympics as a forerunner of Australian hockey. It is impossible to overstate his importance to hockey in general. He guided his team to victory at the 1986 Hockey World Cup in London. He was honored as the 2001 Australian Citizen of the Year for his outstanding achievements and dedication. In 1987, he was additionally admitted into the Australian Hall of Fame.
- Hassan Sardar
Hassan Sardar is without a fear of contradiction the most gifted and possibly the most outstanding player the Pakistan Hockey Federation has ever managed to produce. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Hassan clinched the gold medal and coached the Pakistani national hockey team to victory. Other than providing his services on the field, Sardar has also provided his assistance in the administration of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, wherein he functioned as the head trainer as well as the administrator of the national team.
- Shahbaz Ahmed
Shahbaz Ahmed is widely considered one of the greatest forwards that the game has ever produced. Because of his impeccable dribbling skills with the stick, he was nicknamed the Maradona of field hockey. He captained his squad to a world championship win in 1994. Besides the German club Harvestehuder, Ahmed also played for his country’s squad. He participated in three Olympics and managed to secure the bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics. Another important feat of his is that he is the only player in the history of field hockey to win the Player of the Tournament award two times consecutively in the 1990 and 1994 World Cup.
- Dhyan Chand
Major Dhyan Chand, an Indian hockey player who played for India is recognised as one of the sport’s all-time greats. In addition to winning three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936, he was renowned for his exceptional ball handling and goal-scoring prowess during a time when India dominated hockey. India dominated the hockey tournament in seven of the eight Olympics from 1928 to 1964, therefore he left a lasting impression.
Read More
Also Read: The Undertaker: Biography, Age, Records, Height, Achievements, Family, and Career Statistics
“Get more sports news, cricket news and football updates, log on to sportsdigest.in Follow us on Facebook or Twitter and Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.”
