KUALA LUMPUR – China have no intention of challenging or toppling India’s dominance in Asian hockey, says Kim Sang-ryul.
The 69-year-old master tactician responded after Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Tariq Masoori Bugti told Scoop that his federation had recently partnered with the China Hockey Association (CHA) to challenge India’s hockey supremacy in the region.
The two nations, neighbours of world-ranked number five India, which recently clinched a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, are set to play a series of friendly matches next month.
This collaboration is part of a memorandum signed last month, which includes an exchange programme allowing players from both countries to compete in each other’s leagues.
Pakistan are ranked 15th in the world, while China are 23rd. Both teams performed well in the recently concluded Asian Champions Trophy (ACT).
Speaking to Scoop from Liaoning province, Sang-ryul – who played a pivotal role in leading the Chinese women’s team to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics – explained that CHA’s priority is developing its players by giving them experience against the world’s top hockey nations.
“I’m not sure about Pakistan’s intentions, but I can assure you that CHA has no plans to topple India’s dominance. CHA president Lang Wei is my friend, and I know his administration well.
“Of course, China want to be the best, and its government has been putting pressure, but CHA understands it will take time.
“India have invested heavily in hockey for decades, and China only just begun. All these years, the focus was primarily on the women’s team, but now, I’m glad CHA is shifting attention to the men’s team as well.
“Currently, there are seven hockey clubs in China with around 200 players, and all of them are eager for more international exposure. They want the chance to play in more international tournaments, mainly to learn from their opponents.
“China welcome the friendly series with Pakistan, and the players are excited to gain experience through these exchange programmes. But it’s not just about Pakistan – China are ready to compete with and learn from all the top teams in the world, including India,” Sang-ryul said.
For the record, it has been reported that the Indian government has funded approximately INR 585 crore (RM305 million) over the last nine years for its national hockey team, including the construction of 20 training facilities across the country.
While the Chinese government’s budget for hockey remains unclear, the Pakistani government allocates approximately PKR95 million (RM1.5 million) annually for its national team. – October 8, 2024
