Overview
- Origin
- 19th century England
- Category
- Team
- Olympic discipline
- Yes
- Paralympic discipline
- No
- Central pathway
- Olympic (TOPS eligible)
- Athlete profiles on SportSupport
- 385
Governance and status
Each field below is shown only where we hold a source for it; anything else reads “Not currently verified” rather than a guess. Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports recognition is granted year by year, so it is only ever shown with the year it applies to. Last reviewed: September 2026.
- Indian governing/organising body
- Hockey India
- Ministry recognition
- Hockey India — Annual recognition renewed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports — as at 2026Source: Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports — List of recognised National Sports Federations
- International federation
- Not currently verified
- Khelo India inclusion
- On the official Khelo India Games discipline list as "Hockey"Source: Sports Authority of India / Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports — Discipline wise Participation in all editions of Khelo India Games (19th Edition) (2026-08-29)
- TOPS eligibility
- In scope — TOPS covers Olympic medal prospects
- Olympic status
- On the Olympic programme
- Paralympic status
- Not a Paralympic discipline
Field Hockey is listed on SportSupport in the team category. Its recorded origin is 19th century England. It is on the Olympic programme. We list Hockey India as the Indian governing/organising body for the sport.
Often called India's national sport, though no sport holds that status officially; 8 Olympic golds are a heritage of dominance.
Field Hockey is on the pathway that runs through India's national sports federations to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), with selection running through Hockey India against its published benchmarks. Being on this pathway is not itself a statement that the discipline is currently in TOPS — TOPS covers a Core Group and a Development Group chosen by the Mission Olympic Cell. Field Hockey appears on the official Khelo India Games discipline list as "Hockey", so junior talent identified by the discipline's selectors can be considered under Khelo India Talent Identification & Development (KITID). (Source: Sports Authority of India / Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports — Discipline wise Participation in all editions of Khelo India Games (19th Edition).)
Indian Achievements
Hand-reviewed Olympic, Paralympic, World, Asian and Commonwealth milestones for India in field hockey, compiled from the sources listed on this page. Last reviewed: September 2026.
- 8 Olympic gold medals in men's field hockey — 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1980 (most by any nation).
- Olympic bronze medals — Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 (men).
- FIH Men's Hockey World Cup winners 1975 (Kuala Lumpur).
- Asian Games gold: 1966, 1998, 2014, 2022 (men).
- Junior World Cup winners: 2001 (Hobart) and 2016 (Lucknow) — men.
- Women's Asian Games gold 1982; bronze 2014, 2022; Commonwealth Games silver 2002, 2006.
Famous Indian Players
Landmark field hockey names from India, past and present.
- Major Dhyan ChandThree Olympic golds (1928, 1932, 1936); birthday (29 August) is India's National Sports Day.
- Balbir Singh Sr.Three Olympic golds (1948, 1952, 1956); world-record five goals in the 1952 Olympic final.
- Harmanpreet SinghIndia men's captain; FIH Player of the Year 2022, 2024.
- P. R. SreejeshLegendary goalkeeper; FIH Goalkeeper of the Year (2021, 2024).
- Rani RampalFormer India women's captain; led India to fourth place at Tokyo 2020.
- Savita PuniaIndia women's goalkeeper; captain at Paris 2024 qualifiers.
Notable Coaches
Head coaches and mentors behind India's leading field hockey results.
- Craig FultonIndia men's chief coach; led side to Paris 2024 bronze.
- Harendra SinghIndia women's head coach (from 2024).
- Graham ReidFormer India men's coach; Tokyo 2020 bronze.
- Sjoerd MarijneGuided India women to 4th place at Tokyo 2020.
Scholarships & Funding
Central, state and private scholarships available for field hockey athletes in India.
- Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre
Residential U-15 and U-17 scholarship for boys and girls at Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
- SAI-Hockey India accredited academies
Boarding, coaching, kit and stipend at SAI centres in Rourkela, Sundargarh, Bhopal etc.
- Khelo India Talent Identification & Development (KITID)
Monthly stipend (₹10,000 for selected Khelo India athletes), boarding, coaching and kit at accredited centres for talent identified through the Khelo India selection process (Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports). Applies only to disciplines on the official Khelo India Games list, and only to athletes it selects.
- Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
Central government scheme covering training, foreign exposure, equipment and an out-of-pocket allowance (up to ₹50,000/month) for athletes inducted by the Mission Olympic Cell. The Sports Authority of India names hockey among the scheme's high-priority disciplines, though induction is still decided athlete by athlete.
- National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports fund used to sponsor elite athletes' training, foreign coaches and equipment. Allocations are made case by case; we hold no record of NSDF support specific to hockey.
Indian Players
385 profiles- Harmanpreet SinghPunjab
Drag-flicker who has captained the Indian men's hockey team; Olympic bronze medallist in 2020 and 2024.
- Manpreet SinghPunjab
Midfielder who captained India to its first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years, at Tokyo 2020.
- P. R. SreejeshKerala
Goalkeeper in India's Olympic bronze-medal teams of 2020 and 2024. Served as head coach of the India junior men's team from August 2024 until his contract ended in December 2025.
- Rani RampalHaryana
Former captain who led India to a historic Olympic 4th-place finish in Tokyo and retired from international hockey in January 2025.
- Savita PuniaHaryana
Goalkeeper and former captain of the Indian women's team; succeeded as captain by Salima Tete in 2024.
- A B SubbaiahKarnataka
Anjaparavanda Bopaiah Subbaiah (born 8 August 1970) is a former Indian field hockey goalkeeper and coach. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
- Abhishek NainHaryana
Abhishek Nain (born 15 August 1999) is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a forward in the national team. Nain plays for Rarh Bengal Tigers in the Hockey India League.
- Adam SinclairTamil Nadu
Adam Antony Sinclair (born 29 February 1984) is an Indian former field hockey player from Tamil Nadu. He represented the India men's national field hockey team as a forward, earning 90 international caps. Sinclair competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, and also represented India at the Men's Hockey Champions Trophy.
- Adrian D'SouzaMaharashtra
Adrian Albert D'souza (born 24 March 1984 in Mumbai, Maharashtra) is an Indian field hockey goalkeeper, who made his international debut for the men's national team in January 2004 during the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Adrian has more than 100 International Caps for his country in all competitions. He has played in all major field hockey tournaments, including the 2006 Hockey World Cup, 2006 Asian Games, 2007 Asia Cup and 2 Champions Trophies.
- Affan YousufMadhya Pradesh
Affan Yousuf (born 29 December 1994) is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a forward. He was part of the Indian squad that won the 2016 Asian Men's Hockey Champions Trophy. His father Mohammed Yousuf, grandfather Khuda Dad and uncle Sameer Dad all represented India in field hockey.
- Ahmed KhanIndia
Ahmed Sher Khan (15 December 1914 – September, 1982) was an Indian field hockey player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. He was a member of the Indian field hockey team, which won the gold medal. His son Aslam Sher Khan is also a former hockey player who was a part of the gold-winning Indian hockey team at the 1975 World Cup.
- Ahsan Muhammad KhanIndia
Ahsan Muhammad Khan (born April 7, 1916, date of death unknown) was an Indian field hockey player who played as a halfback and competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. In the 1936 Olympic hockey tournament, he was a member of the gold-winning Indian field hockey team.
- Aishwarya ChavanIndia
Aishwarya Chavan (born 18 October 1997) is an Indian field hockey player and member of Indian women hockey team. She hails from Maharashtra. She plays for Railway Sports Promotion Board in the domestic hockey tournaments.
- Ajinder KaurIndia
Ajinder Kaur (born 14 July 1951) is an Indian field hockey player and a former member of Indian women's hockey team. She hails from Punjab. She played for India and for Punjab and Sisters Hockey Eleven Club in the local tournaments.
- Ajit Pal SinghPunjab
Ajit Pal Singh Kular (also spelled Ajitpal Singh, born 1 April 1947) was an Indian professional field hockey player from Sansarpur, Punjab. He was the captain of the Indian hockey team. He was conferred the Arjuna Award in 1970, and awarded it in 1972.
- Ajit SinghIndia
Ajit Singh (born 2 March 1952) is an Indian field hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Ajit Singh is the brother of Harmik Singh, and the father of Gagan Ajit Singh.
- Ajmina KujurIndia
Ajmina Kujur (born 9 December 2001) is an Indian field hockey player from Odisha. She plays as a midfielder. She plays for Indian Oil Corporation in the domestic tournaments and for the Indian hockey5s team.
- Akash ChikteMaharashtra
Akash Anil Chikte (born 24 July 1992) is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a goalkeeper. He was part of the Indian squad that won the gold medal at the 2016 Asian Men's Hockey Champions Trophy.
- Akashdeep SinghPunjab
Akashdeep Singh (born 2 December 1994) is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a forward for Uttar Pradesh Wizards in the Hockey India League and the India hockey team.
- Akhtar HussainIndia
Akhtar Hussain (Urdu: اختر حسین) (23 August 1926 – 9 November 1987) was an Indian and Pakistani field hockey player, who won the gold medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics for India and the silver medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics for Pakistan. He was one of the first people in history to win Olympic medals for two different countries.
- Akshata DhekaleIndia
Akshata Dhekale (born 2 November 2001) is an Indian field hockey player and member of Indian women's hockey team. She plays for Indian Oil Corporation Limited in the domestic hockey tournaments. She is a defender.
- Ali DaraPunjab
Ali Iqtidar Shah Dara (1 April 1915 – 16 January 1981) was an Indian and later Pakistani field hockey player and the longest-serving hockey manager who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics and the 1948 Summer Olympics. In 1936, he was a member of the British Indian field hockey team, which won the gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics. He played two matches as forward.
- Ali ShaukatIndia
Shaukat Ali (6 October 1897 – 25 February 1960) was an Indian field hockey player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics. He was a member of the Indian field hockey team, which won gold medal in the Olympic Games held at Amsterdam. He played three matches as forward and scored two goals.
- Allan SchofieldKarnataka
Allan Schofield (born 26 January 1957) is a former Indian hockey player. He was part of the Indian hockey team that won the gold medal in 1980 Summer Olympics at Moscow.
- Alloysius EdwardsIndia
Alloysius Edwards (born 21 December 1968) is an Indian field hockey player from Hyderabad. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
- Amandeep KaurIndia
Amandeep Kaur (born January 1, 1976) is an Indian former field hockey player, who represented the India women's national field hockey team. She played with the team when it won the Gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
- Amarjit Singh RanaPunjab
Amarjit Singh Rana (born 3 February 1960 at Khusropur, Punjab) is a former field hockey player from India. He was part of the Indian hockey team which won the gold medal in hockey in the 1980 Summer Olympics at Moscow.
- Amir KumarPunjab
Amir Chand Kumar (August 10, 1923 – January 25, 1980) was an Indian field hockey player who won a gold medal each at the 1948 and 1956 Summer Olympics.
- Amit RohidasOdisha
Amit Rohidas (born 10 May 1993) is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a defender for the India men's national field hockey team. Considered one of the finest defenders of his generation, he is renowned for his fearless first-rushing, tackling ability, aerial distribution and penalty corner defence. Rohidas has served as the vice-captain of the Indian national team and has represented India in the Olympic Games, FIH Hockey World Cup, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, FIH Pro League and Asian Champions Trophy.
- Amit Singh BakshiIndia
Amit Singh Bakshi (17 September 1925 – 22 June 2024) was an Indian athlete and field hockey player.
- Anupa BarlaOdisha
Anupa Barla (born 6 May 1994) is an Indian female field hockey player, who plays as a centre forward.
- Anupama PuchimandaIndia
Anupama Puchimanda (8 July 1980 – 18 April 2021) was an Indian athlete who competed nationally in field hockey and officiated internationally as an umpire. In 2006, she was the first Indian woman to umpire at the Commonwealth Games. She officiated over 90 international hockey matches, including the Asian Games, Central American and Caribbean Games, the FIH Junior World Cup, and the East Asian Games, as well as over 100 Indian hockey matches during her career.
- Anuradha ThokchomManipur
Anuradha Devi Thokchom (Meitei: Thokchom Anuradha Devi, born 2 February 1989 at Toubul, Manipur, India) is a member of the Indian women's national field hockey team. Born and brought up in Toubul, Manipur, she began playing hockey at a young age and made her international debut in the 2006 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy. Thokchom plays as a forward for the Indian team and has more than 80 international caps to her credit.
- Araijeet Singh HundalIndia
Araijeet Singh Hundal (born 21 January 2004) is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a forward. He plays for the India hockey team and specializes in drag flicks. In domestic leagues, he plays for Punjab and Sind Bank and for Team Gonasika.
- Arjun HalappaKarnataka
Arjun Halappa (born 13 December 1980) is a former Indian hockey player and former captain of Indian hockey team.
- Armaan QureshiMadhya Pradesh
Armaan Qureshi (born 1 January 1995) is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a forward. He was part of the Indian squad that won the 2016 Men's Hockey Junior World Cup.
- Arshdeep SinghIndia
Arshdeep Singh (born 10 October 2004) is an Indian field hockey player. He plays for the Indian national team as a forward. He is registered with the Railway Sports Promotion Board, Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club and Hockey Punjab in the domestic tournaments and Hyderabad Toofans in the Hockey India League.
- Arthur Charles HindDelhi
Arthur Charles Hind (22 December 1904 – 20 November 1991) was an Indian field hockey player who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics. He was born in Delhi. In 1932, he was a member of the Indian field hockey team, which won the gold medal.
- Ashish Kumar BallalMaharashtra
Ashish Kumar Ballal (born 8 October 1970) is a former Indian goalkeeper of field hockey. He represented India in 275 international matches in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the 1990 World cup, 3 Champions Trophy tournaments (1989, 1993, 1996), 2 Asian Games (1994, 1998) and 2 Asia Cups (1989, 1993). Ballal became a household name in India when he saved two tie-breaker goals in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games final against South Korea.
- Ashok KumarUttar Pradesh
Ashok Kumar (born 1 June 1950) is an Indian former professional field hockey player. He is the son of the Indian hockey player Dhyan Chand. Kumar was known for his exceptional skills and ball control.
- Aslam Sher KhanMadhya Pradesh
Aslam Sher Khan (born 15 July 1953) is an Indian hockey player and a former member of the Indian team. In the 1975 World Cup held at Kuala Lumpur, Aslam Sher Khan helped the Indian Hockey Team to win the gold medal. He was also a member of the Indian team who participated in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- B. P. GovindaKarnataka
Billimoga Puttaswamy Govinda (born 4 March 1951) was an Indian field hockey player who played as a forward, and a former captain of the Indian national team.
- Baboo NimalMaharashtra
Baburao Narsanna Nimal (17 February 1905 – 20 February 1998) was an Indian field hockey player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. He was a member of the Indian team which won the gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games. He played all the matches in the Olympics (including the final) as a Center Half.
- Bakshish SinghPunjab
Bakshish Singh (14 June 1928 – 21 September 1970) was an Indian field hockey player who won the gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics. He studied at Khalsa College, Amritsar and served in the Punjab Police from 1948 to 1961. He was also part of the team that won the silver medal in the 1958 Asian Games.
- Balbir SinghPunjab
Balbir Singh Grewal (born 21 September 1945), also known as Balbir Singh (Railways), is a retired Indian field hockey player. He played for Railways in the Indian Senior National Hockey Championship. He was part of the Indian teams that won the bronze medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics, gold medal at the 1966 Asian Games and silver medal at the 1970 Asian Games.
- Balbir Singh KularPunjab
Colonel Balbir Singh Kular, VSM (born 5 April 1945) is an Indian field hockey player (half-back). His surname is also spelled as Kullar or Khullar. Balbir Singh was born in the Sansarpur village of the Jalandhar district, and later settled in the Jalandhar city.
- Balbir Singh KullarPunjab
Sardar Balbir Singh Kullar (8 August 1942 – 28 February 2020) was an Indian field hockey player and a Punjab Police officer. Alternative spellings of his last name include Khullar. Balbir Singh was born in the Sansarpur village of the Jalandhar district.
- Balbir Singh, Sr.Punjab
Balbir Singh Dosanjh (10 October 1924 – 25 May 2020), known as Balbir Singh Sr., was an Indian field hockey player and coach. He won three Olympic gold medals with India, at London 1948, Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956.
Rules
Two teams of 11 use hooked sticks to hit a hard ball, scoring by hitting it into the opponent's goal from within the shooting circle. Matches are played in four 15-minute quarters. Players cannot use the rounded back of the stick or their feet to play the ball (except goalkeepers).
Authoritative rulebook: Hockey India. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.
Playing field
- Field
- 91.40 m long × 55.00 m wide
- Goal
- 3.66 m between the inner edges of the posts; 2.14 m from the ground to the lower edge of the cross-bar
- Shooting circle
- 14.63 m from the outer edge of the back-line to the outer edge of the circle-line
Officials
- Umpires
- Two umpires “control the match, apply the Rules and are the judges of fair play”
Match format
- Duration
- Four quarters of 15 minutes
- Intervals
- 2 minutes between quarters 1–2 and 3–4; 10-minute half-time
- Players
- Eleven players on the field per side; squad of up to sixteen — eleven plus five substitutes
Olympic history
- Debut
- Men — 1908 London; women — 1980 Moscow
- India's golds
- 8 — 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1980
- India's records
- Most appearances in the men's competition (22), leads the men's medal tally with 13 medals, and a 30-match winning streak from 1928 Amsterdam to 1960 Rome
Positions
Typical roles across team sports. These are category-level descriptions, not a sourced field hockey squad list.
- Attackers / forwardsPrimary scorers who operate closest to the opposition goal or scoring zone.
- Midfielders / all-roundersLink play between defence and attack; usually the highest work-rate positions.
- DefendersDeny the opposition space and possession in the defensive third.
- Goalkeeper / last lineSpecialist stopper with distinct kit and rules; the final line of defence.
- Captain & vice-captainOn-field leadership, decision-making and communication with match officials.
Equipment
Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in field hockey at a federation-recognised event.
- Hockey stick (curved, wooden or composite)
- Hard hockey ball
- Shin guards and mouthguard
- Goalkeeper kit: helmet, leg guards, kickers
Governing/organising body
Hockey India is the body we list as the Indian governing/organising body for Field Hockey. Its recognition status as we hold it: Annual recognition renewed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (as at 2026). Recognition is granted year by year, so read the federation profile for the source.
- Origin
- 19th century England
- Olympic
- Yes
- Paralympic
- No
- Category
- Team
Major Indian Events
Domestic competitions we hold a source for in field hockey.
- Hockey India League (HIL)
Franchise league revived in 2024–25 with men's and women's editions.
- Senior Men's & Women's National Championships
Hockey India's flagship domestic events.
- Junior National Championships (U-21, U-17)
Age-group nationals feeding the junior India camps.
- Sub-Junior National Championships (U-14, U-16)
Grassroots pathway competitions.
- Nehru Cup (Sub-Junior & Junior)
Long-running age-group national tournament.
International Events
Continental and world-level competitions we hold a source for in field hockey.
- Olympic Games
Men's and women's field hockey.
- FIH Hockey World Cup
Quadrennial world championship (India hosted 2018 and 2023).
- FIH Pro League
Home-and-away league for top-9 nations, men's and women's.
- Asian Games / Asia Cup
Continental championships — Asian Games gold gives direct Olympic qualification.
- FIH Junior World Cup
U-21 world championship.
Leagues
Franchise and professional leagues catalogued for field hockey. Full season data, champions and schedule filters are available in the sidebar.
- Domestic · Since 2013 (revived 2024)Hockey India League
Revived in 2024 with men's and women's editions to anchor hockey's commercial future.
- International · Since 2019FIH Hockey Pro League
Top-tier international league featuring the Indian men's and women's teams.
- Domestic · Since 1925Senior National Hockey Championship
Hockey India's premier national-team championship for state and institutional sides.
- International · Since 1971FIH Hockey World Cup
Quadrennial world championship of field hockey.
International Players
Globally recognised field hockey athletes to know outside India.
- Netherlands (Men & Women)Multiple FIH Hockey World Cups; women's side is the most-decorated in history.
- Australia (Men)3-time FIH Hockey World Cup winners (1986, 2010, 2014).
- Belgium (Men)Olympic champions Tokyo 2020; World Cup winners 2018.
- ArgentinaMen's Olympic gold Rio 2016; Women's World Cup 2002, 2010.
Career Options
Ways to build a career in field hockey — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.
- National team player — Hockey India centrally-contracted core group
- HIL / state league player in India
- FIH / Hockey India-certified coach (Level 1 → Pro)
- FIH umpire (state → national → international panel)
- Sports quota jobs — Indian Railways, ONGC, Punjab Police, Hockey Odisha units
- Support staff at SAI hockey centres (physio, S&C, analyst)
Related academies
33 listed- SAI National Centre of Excellence, BengaluruEliteBengaluru, Karnataka · Since 1991
Sports Authority of India's flagship southern training centre.
- Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, PatialaElitePatiala, Punjab · Since 1961
Asia's largest sports institute and SAI's flagship coach-education and training campus.
- SAI Eastern Centre, KolkataEliteKolkata, West Bengal · Since 1976
Regional Olympic pipeline for eastern India across archery, athletics, gymnastics, women's hockey and table tennis.
- SAI North-East Regional Centre, ImphalNationalImphal, Manipur · Since 1985
Northeast's premier residential centre, running nine NCOE disciplines from archery and cycling to wushu and weightlifting.
- SAI Central Regional Centre, BhopalNationalBhopal, Madhya Pradesh · Since 1990
Hosts the only national sailing academy plus NCOE boxing, judo, wushu and kayaking & canoeing programmes.
- Motilal Nehru School of SportsNationalSonipat, Haryana · Since 1973
Haryana's residential sports school — a feeder for the state's medal factory.
- Naval Tata Hockey AcademyEliteJamshedpur, Jharkhand · Since 2018
Tata Steel's residential hockey academy with state-of-the-art turfs.
- Odisha Naval Tata Hockey HPCEliteBhubaneswar, Odisha · Since 2019
Government of Odisha and Tata Steel's elite hockey pathway.
- Kalinga Institute of SportsEliteBhubaneswar, Odisha · Since 2010
Multi-sport elite complex hosting international hockey, athletics and football.
- Surjit Hockey AcademyNationalJalandhar, Punjab
Punjab hockey nursery at the Surjit Hockey Stadium, named after Olympian Surjit Singh.
- Sports School cum Sports College, JalandharStateJalandhar, Punjab · Since 1961
Punjab government residential sports school and college on a 10-acre Jalandhar campus.
- Chhattisgarh Hockey Academy, RaipurStateRaipur, Chhattisgarh
Residential hockey academy at Raipur, run jointly by SAI and the Chhattisgarh government.
FAQs
Common questions about field hockey in India.
Who governs Field Hockey in India?▾
We list Hockey India as the Indian governing/organising body for Field Hockey, and state associations affiliated to it run age-group and state-level competition. We hold no current-year Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports recognition record for it, so this is not a statement that it is currently a recognised national sports federation — recognition is granted year by year.
Is Field Hockey an Olympic sport?▾
Yes, Field Hockey is on the Olympic programme. Athletes selected by Hockey India against its published criteria can be considered for TOPS funding.
How do I start playing Field Hockey in India?▾
The usual routes are a school team under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), a college team under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or a private academy affiliated to your state association under Hockey India. Age-group state championships follow from there.
What government schemes support Field Hockey athletes?▾
The Sports Authority of India names Field Hockey among the Target Olympic Podium Scheme's high-priority disciplines, so medal-prospect athletes in it can be considered for TOPS support, and state governments give cash awards to medallists at events they notify. (Source: Sports Authority of India — https://sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in/sai_new/target-olympic-podium) Field Hockey appears on the official Khelo India Games discipline list as "Hockey", so athletes identified by the discipline's selectors can be considered under Khelo India Talent Identification & Development (KITID). Appearing on the list is not itself a grant of funding.
Who governs hockey in India?▾
Hockey India (HI), affiliated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Asian Hockey Federation.
How many Olympic hockey golds does India have?▾
8 gold medals in men's field hockey — more than any other nation.
When is India's National Sports Day?▾
29 August, the birthday of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
Where is the Hockey India League based?▾
The HIL is a home-and-away franchise league relaunched in the 2024–25 season with men's and women's editions.
Field Hockey in every state & UT
Dedicated pages for Field Hockey in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.
- Field Hockey in Andhra Pradesh
- Field Hockey in Arunachal Pradesh
- Field Hockey in Assam
- Field Hockey in Bihar
- Field Hockey in Chhattisgarh
- Field Hockey in Goa
- Field Hockey in Gujarat
- Field Hockey in Haryana
- Field Hockey in Himachal Pradesh
- Field Hockey in Jharkhand
- Field Hockey in Karnataka
- Field Hockey in Kerala
- Field Hockey in Madhya Pradesh
- Field Hockey in Maharashtra
- Field Hockey in Manipur
- Field Hockey in Meghalaya
- Field Hockey in Mizoram
- Field Hockey in Nagaland
- Field Hockey in Odisha
- Field Hockey in Punjab
- Field Hockey in Rajasthan
- Field Hockey in Sikkim
- Field Hockey in Tamil Nadu
- Field Hockey in Telangana
- Field Hockey in Tripura
- Field Hockey in Uttar Pradesh
- Field Hockey in Uttarakhand
- Field Hockey in West Bengal
- Field Hockey in Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Field Hockey in Chandigarh
- Field Hockey in Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
- Field Hockey in Delhi
- Field Hockey in Jammu & Kashmir
- Field Hockey in Ladakh
- Field Hockey in Lakshadweep
- Field Hockey in Puducherry