Hockey official Rabbi Roshan dies due to COVID-19 complications

The 44-year-old National Technical Director breathed his last on June 3 in Bihar.

Indian hockey suffered a shock as 44-year-old National Technical Official Rabbi Roshan breathed his last. He passed away on Thursday, June3, n Bihar due to prolonged illness caused by COVID-19.

Rabbi began officiating in 2010 and had officiated in a number of domestic tournaments including the Maharaja Sir B.P. Singh Prize Money All India Hockey Tournament 2020 in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, 10th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2020 (A & B Division) Kollam, Kerala, 10th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2020 (A & B Division), Chennai, Tamil Nadu among several other tournaments. He had last officiated in the recently concluded 1st Hockey India Sub Junior Women Academy National Championship 2021 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha from 17 - 25 March 2021. 

Expressing Hockey India's condolences to Rabbi Roshan's family, President Gyanendro Ningombam said, "We at Hockey India are deeply saddened to learn about the untimely demise of Rabbi Roshan. He was very active in the officiating community and shared a wonderful rapport with other officials. He was always enthusiastic to learn and also forthcoming in taking up officiating assignments. We extend our deepest condolences to his family in this moment of grief.”

Not the first time

However this is not the first death in hockey due to COVID-19. Last month, 47-year-old Umpire’s Manager Virendra Singh too lost his life. He passed away in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh on Monday, 26 April 2021 following covid-related complications.  

Virendra had officiated in a number of All India Tournaments and Hockey India National Championships. He also served as Umpire’s Manager at the recently concluded  56th All India Veer Singh Ju Dev Memorial Tournament and 5th All India Rajmata Vijay Raje Scindhiya Women’s Tournament. He also officiated at the 4th Edition of Bangalore Cup Invitation All India Hockey Tournament 2019 (Men) Bengaluru.

Virendra Singh was also in charge of the All India Swami Shraddhanand Hockey Tournament 2019 Haridwar, Uttarakhand among other events. 

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