FIH promotes Napoleon Singh as international Umpire

The FIH took the decision yesterday after seeing his performance in the recently-concluded 12th South Asian Games 2016, held at Guwahati from February 5 to 16.

FIH recently introduced a new rule which states that at an attacking free hit within five metres of the circle, the ball cannot be played into the circle until it has travelled at least five metres or been touched by a defending player.

Hockey India national-level umpire Napoleon Singh has been promoted to an International Outdoor Umpire by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

The FIH took the decision yesterday after seeing his performance in the recently-concluded 12th South Asian Games 2016, held at Guwahati from February 5 to 16.

Nepoleon started his career as an umpire from Manipur in the third Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2013 held at Ranchi, Jharkhand.

From there on he never stepped back and was a regular umpire to officiate in all the major tournaments conducted under the aegis of Hockey India.

His first major break through was his appointment as umpire in the eighth Junior Men Asia Cup, held at Kuantan, Malaysia in 2015. Based on this performance he was appointed to 12th South Asian Games in 2016.

The 30 year-old Nepoleon was a national level hockey player and completed a diploma in Sports Coaching from the National Institute of Sports, Patiala in 2011. He is presently working as a coach at Kokrajhar, Assam.

Speaking on the occasion, Nepoleon stated, “It is a proud moment for me to achieve the landmark of international umpire and I am thankful to FIH and Hockey India for the recognition.”

Nepoleon is among those young umpires from India who have recently been upgraded to international-level outdoor umpire.

With Nepoleon added to the elite league of international umpires from India, a total of 14 Indian umpires (10 men, 4 women) are now in the category of international-level umpires and would be appointed to officiate in FIH tournaments around the world.