The absence of an Indian umpire or technical official at the upcoming FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup after nearly three decades has left former international officials disappointed, with veterans saying the focus should be on a structured pathway.
European countries account for the bulk of the panel. “The FIH Umpiring Committee selects officials for major tournaments after assessing performances in previous World Cups, the Olympics, the Pro League and other international competitions. Satinder Sharma, who officiated in multiple Olympics and World Cups, described India’s absence from the World Cup officiating panel as disappointing. “After Bawa Sir and Bhullar Sir, Raghu and I carried forward that legacy.
For the first time since the 1998 World Cup in Utrecht, the tournament, beginning on August 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium, will not have any Indian umpire or technical official. India has produced only four men’s World Cup umpires in the modern era — Amarjit Singh Bawa (1990), Tarlok Singh Bhullar (1994), Satinder Sharma (2002, 2006, 2010) and R.V. Raghu Prasad (2010, 2014, 2018 and 2023). Raghu Prasad, the first Asian umpire to officiate in 200 international matches before retiring last year, said appointments for elite events are based on sustained performances in top-level competitions.
Consistency over a period of time is the biggest criterion,” he told PTI . It was never easy to establish ourselves among the European officials,” he said.
“Our men’s team did not qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but I was still India’s only representative there as an official. That shows how much importance is attached to consistent performances. At present, I feel we are lagging behind.”