Durga and Deepak make their international umpiring debut in Breda

Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports’ alma mater Durga Thakur and Deepak Joshi have left for Breda, The Netherlands, as Indian umpires for the forthcoming double 4-Nation Cup.

Its first international assignment for the youngsters who did Hockey Coaching Diploma in the NSNIS four years ago in the same batch.

Deepak Joshi is from Uttarkhand, presently working with Government of Delhi as hockey coach whereas his college peer Durga Thakur hails from Himachal Pradesh.

She is at present Physical Education Teacher in Modern School, New Delhi.

Durga, who represented her state in the National Championships in three sporting disciplines (handball, basketball and Hockey), has started her umpiring career with a posting in HI Sub-Junior Nationals three years ago.

Grabbing the nuances quickly, Durga has grown in stature getting posted for the crucial matches of most tournaments she was assigned, finals of the last Nationals Games is one such.

Deepak Joshi started his umpiring career around the same time as that of her, with a posting at the SAIL-Nehru Champions Colleges Cup in Delhi, and then did not look back.

His career in coaching and umpiring picked up fast.

He was the umpire for the hardline match of Junior Nationals last year, and for the semifinals of the Senior Nationals this year.

Incidentally, both were among three posted at Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium for about two months as interns as part of their diploma course during which spell my NGO boys (One Thousand Hockey Legs) had the benefit of their coaching and affection in full measure.

Durga’s husband Devinder Thakur is pro-Kabbadi player while his brother is none other than Ajay Thakur, Indian Kabbadi sport legend.

Perhaps, the duo represents the emerging culture of youngsters opting for umpiring early in their career. And getting dividends for that.

The Breda break will do a world of wonder for their upward march in the chosen path.

Pic: Deepak Joshi (right) with golden whistle holder Raghu Prasad.