The initiatives of Hockey India will raise the nation’s officiating standards.
Hockey India’s new initiative, the ‘Match Officials Education and Development Plan,’ has received praise from international match officials Javed Shaikh and Mohammed Muneer. The plan aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of aspiring umpires and technical officials in India. Approximately 350 individuals from across the country have enrolled in the program.
Javed Shaikh, an FIH International Pro League Panel Umpire with more than 150 international matches under his belt, has officiated in prestigious tournaments like the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics. Mohammed Muneer, also an FIH International Pro League Panel Technical Official, has served as a technical officer in numerous national and international competitions, including the Asian Games Qualifiers.
The Match Officials Education and Development Plan will be conducted in five zones: New Delhi, Pune, Andhra Pradesh, Jamshedpur, and the North East region. The details and registration process for the North East zone will be announced shortly, according to Hockey India.