Hockey India congratulates duo appointment to Potential for International Umpire Manager

Hockey India on Tuesday congratulated Gurinder Singh Sangha and Ripudaman Sharma for being appointed as potential for International Umpire Manager by International Hockey Federation (FIH), the world governing body for hockey.

The FIH announced its decision on Monday after their names were recommended by Hockey India and supported by Asian Hockey Federation.

While Sangha began his umpiring career in 1995, Ripudaman started hockey umpiring in 1997 and the two have since been officiating in domestic and international matches as umpires.

Sangha has umpired at the 2003 Afro Asian Games, Hamburg Cup, AHF Cup final, and Hero Hockey World League Final 2015 in Raipur among other events, while Sharma has officiated as umpire at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, South Asian Games, Asian Champions Trophy Japan and Junior Asia Cup in Singapore.

 

"With this new role as potential International Umpire Manager for FIH, I am sure we can learn a lot more about umpire management at the world level, learn more about the technology being used and impart what we have learnt to Umpires in India," expressed Ripudaman Sharma, 47, of Kapurthala, Punjab.

For Gurinder Singh Sangha, apart from fond memories of officiating in top international events, his stint as an Umpire during the Hockey India League (HIL) has been most fruitful.

"I have officiated during the first 4 seasons of HIL. The fact that HIL had world class Umpires and Managers apart from world's best players taking part in the League, the learning was vast," said Gurinder Singh Sangha, 46, from Jalandhar, Punjab.

"There was a lot that we could share with other international Umpires about the job and it was actually during the HIL when I too decided to take up the Umpire Manager role and started understanding more about its requirements during HIL," he added.

Congratulating the two Hockey India's Secretary General, Md. Mushtaque Ahmad said, "I wish them the very best for their new roles. The duo has contributed immensely towards promoting young umpires in the country and I believe they will continue to serve hockey the same way they have over the past 20 years at both domestic and international level.