New Delhi: Hailing from Gujarat and starting his career in the year 2009, Dhaval Prajapati was on Friday promoted as an International Hockey Umpire from a National Hockey Umpire by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Having a knack of umpiring the game more than playing hockey since his childhood, Dhaval Prajapati started umpiring the domestic matches at the age of 19 itself and went on to officiate matches at National level from the year 2011 with the 1st Hockey India Junior Men National Championship being his first expedition.
Speaking on his achievement, Dhaval Prajapati said, "It is a moment of joy and pride for me, as this achievement proves that hockey as a sport in India is growing as well as being appreciated worldwide. I feel really proud to be promoted as an umpire on an International platform and would work even harder to reach my goal, which is to officiate matches at the Olympics. I would like to thank my mentors who believed in me and it is because of them that I am awarded with such an opportunity."
Congratulating Dhaval Prajapati on his promotion, Hockey India Secretary General Md. Mushtaque Ahmad said, "It is a pleasure to see that Hockey as a sport is not only inspiring the budding players but is also attracting talent in its various fields. Being promoted as an International Hockey Umpire, Dhaval Prajapati has clearly made an impact on an international level and this achievement of his brings much joy and recognition to Hockey in India. I would like to congratulate Dhaval Prajapati on his promotion and wish him luck for his future endeavours."
Dhaval Prajapati to his credit has a list matches officiated by him which includes, 1st Hockey India Junior Men National Championship (2011), 2nd Hockey India Junior Men and Senior Women National Championship (2012), 3rd Sultan of Johor Cup Tournament (2013), 3rd Hockey India Junior Men and Senior Women National Championship (2013), 4th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship (B Division - 2014), 4th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship (B Division - 2014) and the recently concluded 4th Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia.