Sticking around
Nitin Sharma

A thankless job! That is what umpiring during matches is all about. One rarely gets a pat on the back for the countless correct decisions that one delivers under tremendous pressure and that too when there are omnipresent cameras on the ground. With new technologies coming into play, umpires or referees’ decisions are always under the scanner. Newsline caught up with internationally acclaimed umpires in the region, like Jasbir Singh (cricket) and Satinder Sharma (hockey) and got to know their views on the changing face of umpiring with coming of technology into umpiring

Talk of hockey umpires and the name of Satinder Sharma immediately come across the minds of hockey aficionados in India. And for the past five years, this international grade I umpire has been making the right moves on the hockey field. Rated as many as one of the best international umpires in India, employed with State Bank of India, Satinder started his career as a player and gradually moved towards umpiring.

“In the beginning, I used to play for Chandigarh and Rock Rovers Academy and it was gradually with time that my interest for umpiring grew. Credit must go to Kuckoo Walia and late SN Vohra who encouraged me to take umpiring seriously,” shares Satinder, whose first major assignment as an international umpire came during the junior World Cup held at Hobart, Australia in 2002. For a person who happens to be a hockey player, the most difficult part of umpiring in early days was to know the hockey rules. “When we used to play as players, we never used to read about the rules of the game. We just concentrated on playing the game and scoring goals. Once I started umpiring, I realized the importance of rules and in the initial months, I read various coaching manuals and rule books to understand the game more,” recalls Satinder as he sets his eyes on his next assignment, officiating in Beijing Olympics. “I am eagerly waiting for Beijing Olympics as I will be crossing the century mark of officiating in international matches. Though I am little disappointed by the fact that the Indian team will not be going to Beijing but it feels good to represent India in umpiring in Beijing,” shares Satinder who will be looking to cross the century mark of officiating in hockey matches at the Beijing Olympics.

“For me, the most unforgettable incident of my career came during my last trip to Holland. I was officiating in a four-nation men’s championship at Rotterdam and there was also an inter-university meet going on at the adjoining ground. One of the players got injured and I was astonished to see the kind of attention given to the player. There was a helicopter to take her to the nearest hospital in Amsterdam. They love their game and more importantly respect their sportspersons.” Satinder is the only Indian on the elite panel of FIH and is known for his fitness on the field. “For an umpire fitness is important in games like hockey and football. It is not like cricket where one has to stand and give decisions.” feels Sharma.