Dabang Mumbai News

New Delhi, 24 November 2013: Hero Hockey India League today announced the appointment of Mr. Craig Gribble as Umpires Manager for the six franchise based team event to be held from 25 January 2014.

Hockey India Secretary General and Hero Hockey India League Chairman Dr. Narinder Batra said reunited for the first time since their success in London at the 2012 Olympic Games, the appointment of Craig in conjunction with Bjorn as Tournament Director further substantiates the profile of the Hero HIL. “Attracting such quality to serve in the two senior technical roles of the HHIL is a true testament to the status of the tournament and how it is perceived globally by the world’s leading officials” said Dr. Batra.

Mr. Gribble said I am looking forward for being part of the Hero HIL where I can work with the appointed umpire and officiating panels and also help to develop the local India umpires. It will be a wonderful opportunity for the umpire group to develop and apply their craft to such an exciting brand of hockey. It will be a great opportunity to work again with the World’s leading Tournament Director Bjorn Isberg. We have worked together at the Champions Trophy in 2011 and London Olympic Games 2012.

“I watched many of the games of inaugural season of Hero Hockey India League on television in New Zealand and I was excited by the hockey and the great mix of India’s domestic and International players” add Mr. Gribble.

The 47 year old Craig Gribble is currently working as the Technical Manager for Hockey New Zealand. He has conducted many events over the recent years in this capacity. He has been part of Commonwealth Games 2010, two Champions Trophy Tournaments in 2011 & 2012, two Olympic Qualification Tournaments in 2012, London Olympic Games in 2012 and FIH World League Semi-finals in Rotterdam 2013.

Mr. Gribble has been working as an international umpire manager since 2007 after retiring from international umpiring in 2006. He stood in the 48 test matches from 1997-2006.