FIH promotes Deepak to International Outdoor Umpire

NEW DELHI: Hockey India's national-level umpire Deepak Joshi has been promoted to the International Outdoor Umpire panel by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) today.

The FIH took the decision after seeing his performance in the recently concluded U-21 Volvo Invitational Tournament, held in Breda, The Netherlands in July.

Deepak started his career as a hockey umpire from the SAIL National College Championship in 2012 and has officiated at the 35th National Games held in Kerala this year.

He was a regular umpire in the Hockey India National Championships including the Senior Men National Championship 2015, Division A and Division B.

The 27-year-old was a hockey player and had represented Uttarakhand in the National Championships from 2007 to 2010. In 2011, he completed a Diploma in Sports Coaching from the National Institute of Sports, Patiala and in 2012, he started working as a Coach at the MDC National Stadium, New Delhi. Presently, he is a regular coach for Delhi Hockey.

Deepak is among those young umpires from India who have recently been upgraded to international-level tournaments.

This year, 24-year-old Deepa has also been promoted as International Outdoor Umpire in the Women's Hockey by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

With Deepak and Deepa, a total of 13 Indian umpires (9 Men, 4 Women) are now in the category of International-level umpires and officiate FIH tournaments around the world.

Congratulating Deepak Joshi, Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad, Secretary General, Hockey India said: "This is another achievement of Hockey India as we not only produce the best international players, but also international-level umpires. Deepak is very professional about his work and his consistent hard work has paved the way for this reward."