THE LAST MOHICAN - MALAYSIAN INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY UMPIRE – AMARJIT SINGH JESSY

Amarjit Singh Jessy is one of the best known faces on the international & Malaysian hockey umpiring circuit and for the record, Amarjit has umpired in 154 international matches during his umpiring career.

He was the first Asian umpire and currently the only Malaysian to have received the FIH Golden Whistle in 2004 Athens Olympics. This award has further pushed the benchmark of achievements to all other Malaysian Umpires to follow suit.

Amarjit began his career as a hockey player in the 90s, representing the Malaysian B team in 1992. He then took up umpiring and never looked back. 

To his distinction, Amarjit has umpired in four senior World Cups – Utrecht (1998), Kuala Lumpur (2002), Moenchengladbach (2006) and New Delhi (2010).

Amarjit also officiated in three Olympics – Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008) – Amarjit has also umpired in two Champions Trophy, two Commonwealth Games and numerous other prestigious international meets.

Former World Cup and Olympic Games hockey umpire Amarjit Singh Jessy has created history of sorts and his milestones:

SENIOR WORLD CUPS 1998 Utrecht, Holland 2002 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2006 Munchengladbach, Germany 2010 Delhi, India & JUNIOR WORLD CUP 2005 Junior World Cup (Finals) Rotherham, Holland

OLYMPICS 2000 Sydney, Australia 2004 Athens, Greece 2008 Beijing, China

COMMONWEALTH GAMES 1998 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2002 Manchester, London (FINALS)

FIH CHAMPIONS TROPHY IN Kuala Lumpur & Amsterdam, Holland

European Nations Cup (Finals)

Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Tournaments & Various other World level tournaments

Amarjit in action...

Upon retiring from International Umpiring, he started as the umpires’ manager for the 2013 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup followed by the 2013 World League Semi-finals in Johor Bharu. He also played a role in MHFUB. 

He also played as Umpires Manager at Asia Cup, the Sultan of Johor Cup and the Junior World Cup levels.

Currently he is an appointed Educator and has managed FIH / AHF Umpires Courses done in Malaysia, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Italy & Japan.

There is a saying - Take pride in your work at all times. Remember, respect for an umpire is created off the field as well as on. As of today, he is the Secretary of Perak Hockey Association.

He is well versed of the rules and would take time to answer any disputes. He also goes beyond reach to assist in the technical aspects of hockey in any hockey tournaments that he is invited or involved in. Whatever he does, he undertakes with total commitment and always gives his best.

He always wanted young Malaysian Umpires to emulate and follow to his standards and the closest who has come to him was Eric Koh. 

It was indeed a proud moment for Malaysia as well as Eric when he blew in his first 2018 World Cup hockey in Bhubaneswar. Other major tournaments he umpired at were the World League Semi-Finals in Antwerp, Belgium in 2016 and in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Eric cited that renowned international umpire Amarjit Singh was his role model and inspiration. Unfortunately, Eric Koh dreams was dashed when he was not listed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. And we hope that Eric not to give up hope and makes it to 2023 World Cup & 2024 Paris Olympics.

There is no any Malaysian listed on the FIH Olympics Games Panel. And currently the highest Malaysian Umpire is Eric Koh with 68 Matches & Rawi Anbananthan with 59 matches in Pro League panel. Others are in International Elite Panel - Illango (70 matches) & Nazmi (51 matches). 

As for women, the gap is very wide and none in Olympics or Pro League panels, closest is Nur Hafizah in International Elite Panel with 68 matches.

And we must understand that the performance of National Teams at World level plays a critical role in our Malaysian Umpiring promotions and available slots at International level. Both has a relationship and must progress in tandem. Since we are no longer an Olympic status team, then our Malaysian Umpires would suffer the consequences too. 

Looking at current FIH Umpiring level, is going to be tough for any Malaysian Umpires to come close to Amarjit's achievements or to Umpire in Olympics level.

With that, the stickwithmike would like to bestow on Amarjit Singh Jessy the title of “THE LAST MOHICAN - MALAYSIAN INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY UMPIRE”

We wish you the very best in your endeavors…

P/S - wrote a wish list for MHC Umpires Board in July 2020 and the link https://stickwithmike.blogspot.com/2020/07/wish-list-for-malaysian-hockey-umpires.html