Hockey umpires, be it men or women often work behind the scenes and invariably stay away from the limelight. There are rare occasions when hockey umpires get to enjoy the spotlight. And for India’s women hockey umpire Durga Thakur, getting promoted to an international outdoor umpire by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) is one of those rare moments when umpires hog the limelight.
The 29-year-old umpire, who hails from Himachal Pradesh, made her umpiring debut in 2013 at the third Hockey India Sub-Junior Men & Women National Championship (Finals) in Bhopal. “It was my first tournament as hockey umpire. The Bhopal event was a huge experience for me. I got to learn so much from my umpiring stints in that debut tournament,” says Durga in an informal chat.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) was impressed with the umpiring skills of Durga when she officiated at the recently-concluded Hawke's Bay Cup in Hastings, New Zealand. “I officiated in four games in the Hawke's Bay Cup in New Zealand. Around ten umpires were there for the Hawke's Bay Cup and five of them are slated to officiate in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Umpiring alongside experienced colleagues was a massive learning curve for me,” quips Durga, who made her international debut at the 2015 Six-Nation Cup in Breda, Netherlands.
Durga, who is an NSNIS diploma holder, is now hoping to get more international umpiring assignments in future. “Hockey India has supported me a lot and I was able to officiate in two international tournaments in the Netherlands and New Zealand. I’m confident of umpiring in big events like the World Cup, Olympics, etc,” she oozes confidence.
Durga, who works as a physical education teacher at Modern School, New Delhi, has a message for aspiring women hockey umpires. “Hockey India is encouraging girls to take up hockey umpiring. There is paucity of women hockey umpires and I feel that girls should come forward and take up umpiring,” she signs off.
