Former international hockey umpire Shakeel Ahmed Qureshi hailing from Madhya Pradesh, who is in the State capital as the tournament director of Third Hockey India Junior Women National Championship beginning from Friday at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium wherein 29 teams across India are participating, shared his thoughts with The Pioneer on the prosperous scope of Hockey for Indian Women.
Strict yet calm, this person is a perfectionist when it is about analysing a hockey match as a whole. Shakeel firmly believes that Hockey India league will be able to establish its name like Indian Premiere league.
Describe your journey from Hockey Umpire to tournament director.
I have umpired 75 international hockey matches from 1991 to 2006. My association with International Hockey Federation as Umpire Manager has been an added experience. I was the tournament director at Ranchi for the 34th National Games in February 2011. As tournament director, this is my second visit to Ranchi.
Compared to the international level, how is hockey doing among Indian WomenIJ
Women at both junior and senior levels are performing quite well. At Government sector, this game has immense scope for women.
You took a beep test among the umpires. What was the purposeIJ
We have chosen new umpires for this tournament who are young and are doing well by giving their hundred percent. We want them to proceed towards more national and then to international hockey matches.
Among the 29 teams here, which teams according to you are eligible for the national level and whyIJ
Haryana, Jharkhand, Odisha and Punjab teams owe good players because of continous camp participation. They are better than others.
What message would you convey to the young women players hereIJ
All the best.