Field hockey, derived from the French term “hocquet”, boasts a rich history that can be traced back to ancient times, evolving into the popular sport that is celebrated today. Over the centuries, the game has undergone various adaptations, with the modern iteration taking form in 19th century England. Notably, it is imperative to highlight the emphasis on gender parity within the sport, as women comprise 51% of the 30 million field hockey players worldwide.
The game is structured into four quarters of 15 minutes each, and comprises of 11 players on each team, which encompass a goalkeeper, fullbacks, midfielders, and forwards. Substitutions are permissible at any juncture, and in the event of a tied score during Olympic pool matches, the game concludes in a draw. For knockout games, penalty shoot-outs are employed to declare a victor.
Originally contested on natural grass, field hockey now predominantly utilises synthetic turf to facilitate faster-paced gameplay. The playing field is irrigated to augment ball speed. Equipped with hooked sticks, players adeptly manoeuvre and strike a hard ball, with the flat side of the stick being the sole permissible point of contact. Penalties in the form of green, yellow, or red cards are administered for illicit contact using hands or feet, with the exception of goalkeepers.
Field hockey has been a staple feature of the Olympic Games since 1908, and has been a permanent fixture since 1928, save for the interruptions in 1912 and 1924. The women’s competition was introduced at the 1980 Moscow Games. Nations such as India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, and Great Britain have historically demonstrated prowess in the sport. India and the Netherlands have particularly excelled, with India having secured eight gold medals and the Netherlands claiming a total of nine Olympic medals, including four golds. Other nations such as Argentina, Germany, Spain, France, and Belgium have also ascended in the international rankings.
Belgium and the Netherlands are the reigning Olympic champions for the men’s and women’s teams, respectively. Field hockey at the Paris Olympics 2024 will commence with group matches for both men and women on July 27, and will progress to the knockout stage on August 4. The gold medal matches are scheduled to take place on August 8 and August 9 at the Yves-du Manoir Stadium.