New Delhi: Hockey India on Monday congratulated umpire Anand on joining the elite list of Indians who have made it to the FIH International panel.
Rohtak-born Anand, who has been promoted to Outdoor Umpire, was intrigued by umpiring after he attended a Hockey India Umpiring seminar in 2012. He had officiated his first international tournament in 2017 at the Sultan of Johor Cup.
"I was very interested and thought there's great scope for umpiring. I got my first stint as an umpire in 2012 during the Sub-Junior Nationals in Rohtak that year and continuously got domestic opportunities thereafter," the 32-year-old said.
Anand, who used to be a former state player and later took to hockey coaching in 2011, thanks to Hockey India for their endeavour in providing an opportunity for umpires from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
"Hockey India has helped us constantly improve by regularly updating with modern umpiring tools and resources such as the presentation on management technique," Anand said.
"There are also Umpiring Courses conducted by Hockey India which enable us to be able to interact with international course conductors and attendees wherein we interact about umpiring and how we can constantly improve," he said.
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Hockey India's Secretary General Rajinder Singh congratulated the umpire, saying: "It is indeed a proud moment for us at Hockey India to have so many youngsters showing a keen interest in umpiring, which is extremely demanding physically with the game being played with a lot of speed over the past few years."
"I hope Anand continues to pursue his passion in umpiring and wish more youngsters from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities take up umpiring as a profession," he said.
