Even as the Indian teams finished on the podium at the U-18 Asia Cup men's and women's competitions in Kakamigahara, Japan, another youngster from Jharkhand quietly made the country proud. Neetu Kumari, just 26, officiated at her first international tournament and could not have been prouder of the achievement.
"It was a big deal for me. Getting an international tournament assignment within just two years is very difficult in India. I had officiated at the national level before, but this was my first international experience, and it was very special," said Neetu, who also officiated in the Women's Hockey India League earlier this year after beginning her umpiring journey only in 2024.
At the Men's & Women's U-18 Asia Cup, held simultaneously, she stood in three women's matches and served as a video umpire in a men's game. Asked how it differed from officiating at national tournaments, she said: "At the international level, players didn't argue much; they respected decisions. In India, players often argue even over small calls, but here it was very professional."
Beyond the on-field experience, Neetu said she learned a lot from senior umpires as well. "The support from umpires from different countries was incredible. I learned a lot from the umpire managers. Initially, I didn't know what to expect, but now I understand the demands of international officiating much better," added Neetu, who has completed the Asian Hockey Federation Level 3 course and is now eyeing FIH certification.
However, she might never have taken up umpiring had she secured a job as a player — something that eluded her despite representing Jharkhand in various age-group tournaments, including the senior nationals, where she last played in 2023 and won a bronze medal. "She began representing Jharkhand from the U-14 nationals and was always very strong and energetic," said her mother, Dulari Topno, who started coaching Neetu at the age of seven and has been a coach at St Joseph's Girls High School in Hulhundu since 2007.
While Dulari is now proud of her daughter's journey, she still feels Neetu could have gone further as a player. Neetu, however, has no regrets and has been working tirelessly to improve as an umpire. "I learned everything on the job with guidance from seniors. I also watched international matches on YouTube to understand positioning, communication and body language," she said. "I am among the fittest umpires in India, and I train regularly, which helps me perform better."
Coming from a family deeply connected with hockey — not just her mother but her siblings as well — she now hopes to officiate at the Olympics one day. It would be a special feat, too, because while Jharkhand has produced several top hockey players, only a handful of its women umpires have reached the international level.
