India absent from FIH World Cup umpiring panel for first time since 1998

For the first time since the 1998 World Cup in Utrecht, no Indian umpire or technical official will be on the panel for the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, which begins on August 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Indian hockey 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) — but Veterans and officials point to gaps in the pathway and exposure that they say explain the absence. Hockey India's list updated in May 2025 shows the men's umpiring structure has four categories — Core Leading Panel, Leading Panel, High Potential and National Umpires — with more than 100 officials, while the women's structure comprises over 70; despite that domestic pool only six Indian men and four women are on the FIH umpiring panel and Raghu's retirement reduced the active men's strength further. India also has only four men's and two women's FIH technical officials, the article reported.

R.V. Raghu Prasad, described in the report as the first Asian umpire to officiate in 200 international matches before retiring last year, stressed the importance of consistent top-level performances for elite appointments. "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. Consistency over a period of time is the biggest criterion," he told PTI.

Satinder Sharma, who officiated at multiple Olympics and World Cups, called India's absence from the World Cup officiating panel disappointing and recalled the difficulty of matching European officials' opportunities. "After Bawa Sir and Bhullar Sir, Raghu and I carried forward that legacy. It was never easy to establish ourselves among the European officials," he said, adding: "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."

Sharma urged increased international exposure and integration of umpires into national preparations to close the gap between domestic and international officiating. "If domestic umpires don't officiate in major international tournaments, how will they gain experience? There is a huge difference between domestic and international umpiring," he said. "Umpires should also be part of national coaching camps so they understand the demands of modern hockey. We have talent, but officials need opportunities and support from the federation."

Amarjit Singh Bawa, who officiated at the 1990 Lahore World Cup and the 1988 Seoul Olympics before retiring in 1994 and is now settled in Canada, recalled limited recognition and modest allowances for umpires during his career. "When I started, we received a daily allowance of only Rs 20, which later increased to Rs 100 during KPS Gill's tenure. In those days, umpires were hardly considered an important part of the sport," he said. "There were no medals or souvenirs for umpires either. It was during the 1977 Ranjit Singh Tournament in Amritsar, we ensured that officials were also honoured."

The three veterans highlighted financial insecurity as a deterrent for prospective umpires, citing low match fees and scarce international assignments. "In our time, we received Rs 150-200 a day in domestic tournaments and an allowance of $40-50 during international assignments. Even today, most Indian umpires are either unemployed or officiate only in domestic competitions," Sharma said. Raghu described the post-retirement reality for umpires: "As long as I was umpiring, I devoted myself entirely to it. After retirement, I had to find a private job through my own efforts, and the income is modest. In such circumstances, why would parents encourage their children to become umpires?" he said. "Players receive awards, government jobs and recognition for outstanding performances. Umpires receive neither salaries nor meaningful incentives. Even those who are employed often struggle to get leave for international assignments."

Veterans called for systematic planning and clearer development routes to restore Indian representation at major tournaments; "Proper planning and a structured pathway are essential if India wants representation at the next World Cup or Olympics," Sharma said.