RLaunched in 1983 on a modest scale with five countries in the fray, the growth of the annual Azlan Shah international hockey tournament contributes to a fascinating study. As the 19th edition is set to go on stage in Ipoh on Thursday 6May, it is difficult to refrain from noting the vicissitudes that marked this significant competition in continental hockey. Almost every top team in the world had figured in the tournament at one point of the other, but none was as consistent as Australia.
By S. Thyagarajan
It was Ric Charlesworth who led the Aussies to a trophy triumph in the opening edition. He has endured to stay on the scene even in the 19th edition as the chief coach parading a youthful team composed to keep alive the assembly line.
With the exception of Grant Schubert, the perhaps, the Aussie squad contains enough rookies. Of the 10 appearances in the tournament, Australia had finished on top of the podium five times, the last triumph surfacing in 2007. Australia has two silvers and an equal number of bronze medals also.
Pakistan and India have figured in the event 14 and 13 times respectively. India enters the fray on Thursday as the defending champion, while Pakistan’s last win came in 2003. After a disastrous World Cup in Delhi, both India and Pakistan have fielded a new look combinations, casting aside many a veterans, hoping that some youngsters will catch the eye.
Apart from these three preparing for the Commonwealth Games, the fourth squad looking out a happy outing is the home team, Malaysia. Predictably, Malaysia has been part of the tournament in all the 18 previous occasions but without a gold medal so far.
Korea, one of the disappointments during the last World Cup, along with China and Egypt complete the list of seven in the fray in the 19th edition.
AT A GLANCE
| Year | Venue | Teams | Winner | Captain | Matches | Goals |
| 1983 | | 5 | | R.Charlesworth | 12 | 51 |
| 1985 | | 6 | | Mohammad Shahid | 11 | 49 |
| 1987 | | 6 | | Heiner Dopp | 11 | 45 |
| 1991 | | 6 | | Pargat Singh | 15 | 67 |
| 1994 | | 5 | | Jason Laslett | 12 | 57 |
| 1995 | | 6 | | Pargat Singh | 18 | 52 |
| 1996 | | 6 | | Park Shin Heun | 18 | 62 |
| 1998 | | 6 | | Micheal York | 18 | 88 |
| 1999 | | 6 | | Atif Bashir | 18 | 94 |
| 2000 | | 7 | | Atif Bashir | 24 | 95 |
| 2001 | | 7 | | Florian Kunz | 24 | 117 |
| 2003 | | 5 | | Mohammad Nadim | 12 | 48 |
| 2004 | | 7 | | Brent Livermore | 24 | 120 |
| 2005 | | 7 | | Brent Livermore | 24 | 105 |
| 2006 | | 8 | | Jeroen Delmee | 18 | 81 |
| 2007 | | 8 | | Robert Hammond | 20 | 78 |
| 2008 | | 7 | | Manuel Vivaldi | 24 | 112 |
| 2009 | | 5 | | Sandeep Singh | 12 | 44 |
| 18 | Total | 18 | 7 | 15 | 315 | 1365 |
Statistics composed by B.G.Joshi
