Page 20 - 170 Varsity ebook

18 / Our Community

Short End of the

Hockey Stick

A policy change complicates ethnic minorities, long part of Hong
Kong's hockey culture, playing for the Hong Kong team.
By Daniel Koong

(Photo courtesy of Oson Lam Ngo-sing)

espite being qualified to The former head coach of the Hong
play at the highest level of “If the Asian Hockey Association Kong women’s national field hock-
Dthe domestic league and changes the rule so that foreign- ey team Arif Ali says the situation
representing Kowloon Cricket ers can play for the Hong Kong was different ten years ago.
Club’s A team competing in the national team, I would definitely
women’s premier division, hockey want to,” the 17-year-old hockey “There was a policy change in 2013.
player Ivy Nina Pieter is not eligi- player says. The Asian Hockey Federation has
ble to represent Hong Kong due to advised the HockeyHK that only
her nationality. Pieter also has other concerns HKSAR passport holders are eligi-
about her nationality. ble to represent Hong Kong at in-
“I do want to play for the Hong ternational tournaments,” Ali says.
Kong team because Hong Kong “The Netherlands is a part of the “
hockey is so small. So it is fun to European Union so with my pass- I do want to play for
play against different teams, play port I can go to around 26 coun-
in a bigger tournament and play tries I think. The Netherlands the Hong Kong team
against better opponents,” says passport is better so I do not want because Hong Kong
Pieter, who first started playing to give it up,” she adds. hockey is only so
hockey in 2021. small
Under the current policy, players ”
Pieter and her family moved to are required to produce their HK-
Hong Kong from the Netherlands SAR passport as a proof of eligibil- The Pakistani Hong Kong hockey
in 2018. She fell in love with hock- ity before they can be considered player retired from the pitch in
ey after playing the sport for the for selection for the Hong Kong 2014. He was born and grew up in
first time during the pandemic national field hockey team. Hong Kong, representing the Hong
with her mother and sister. Kong national team since 1994.