MARGAO
Anoshika D'Souza, a 20-year-old from Bastora village in North Goa, is set to make history as the first hockey official from the State to attain the role of Technical Official.
D'Souza, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Education at Don Bosco College, Panaji, expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity. She praised Hockey India’s Match Officials Education and Development Plan, stating, “I would like to thank Hockey India for this initiative. It provides aspiring umpires and technical officials with a chance to refine their skills and knowledge. This programme will serve as a platform for knowledge transfer and should be promoted more, as many young officials aspire to officiate at national and international levels.”
D'Souza, who looks up to Maharashtra Technical Delegate Dijvijay Naik as her idol, is excited about her upcoming role in the Junior National Championships. “I’m very happy to be officiating in my first Junior National. What makes it even more special is that I am the only Goan in the mix. It’s a great opportunity for me,” she said.
Her journey includes a successful debut as a technical officer at the West Zone Subjunior Nationals in Gujarat, and she has since officiated at several national and international tournaments. D'Souza has represented Goa in 14 national tournaments.
On her preparation, she highlighted the importance of fitness. “Fitness is crucial for us, and I stayed focused on it throughout. I worked on my fitness through online classes,” she added.
D'Souza concluded by expressing her gratitude to Hockey India, Hockey Goa, her friends, and her family for their support. “I’m deeply thankful to everyone who has supported me on this journey,” she said.
