Superb organization and smooth running of the Masters Hockey Asian Cup 2013 was accomplished by the Hong Kong Hockey Association and its experienced and dedicated volunteers and officials that took place at Happy Valley and the HK Football Club from Tuesday Oct 29 to Sunday Nov 3.
Welcome cocktails, the tournament schedule, the umpire team, website updates, tournament dinner and the final presentations all ran like clockwork.
This international FIH and IMHA approved tournament attracted Senior Masters and Grand masters men’s teams from Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Hong Kong. A Grand Masters Alliance team also competed, but they were not part of the international tournament.
Japan showed their winning capability at Grand Masters level by a clear margin, winning all of their matches. Malaysia were runners up.
In the Senior Masters the Hong Kong team knew before their last game that they needed to win their match against Korea by a clear seven goals. In the event they won 11-1 to edge Malaysia into second place on goal difference.
The women’s competition was not a true international as only two teams took part. South Korea and Hong Kong played two matches, which were a pleasure to watch. The Hong Kong team struggled a bit faced with an accomplished Korean team composed of seven silver medallists from the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
The Koreans played with all the attributes you would expect from such an illustrious group. They were also so happy and engaging both on and off the field and played with immense composure. Hong Kong did not quite have the matching skills and were beaten 10-0 in both matches.
Masters Asian Cup origin
Jimmy Keir who has been in Hong Kong since 1962 explained some of the tournament background to the Epoch Times.
“I played hockey in India and then here in Hong Kong. In 1981 I was a manager and player that took a Hong Kong team down to Perth, Australia,” said Keir.
“We had no idea what veteran’s hockey was about.
“When we were greeted by the Australians they said thank heavens you have come because now with Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong making the fourth team we can call ourselves an International. And that is how the Masters was started.
“Since then it has developed and recently we have been playing in different countries every year,” he continued.
“Now we have got the Senior Masters [over 50’s], the Grand Masters [over 60’s] and we have the Ladies Veterans [over 35], and so it has grown.
“The last time we had the tournament here we had teams all the way from England, Scotland, Europe, etc ... ”.
The Masters Hockey Asian Cup was first played in Singapore in 2011 and this is only the second tournament.
“I believe Malaysia is very keen to host the next tournament in 2015 and it will be a ‘back room’ tournament with New Zealand, Australia and Singapore,” Keir explained.
Next Matches
A full program of Premier Division matches is planned for this coming weekend.
