How South Korean Three-Time Olympian You Hyo-Sik Seamlessly Wore the Umpiring Shoes

He took to hockey umpiring like a duck to water. South Korean hockey umpire You Hyo-Sik has built a reputation as one of the best in the business. His umpiring exploits are on display in the 6th Men’s Hockey India League, where he is one among the three foreign umpires officiating.

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At the 6th Men’s Hockey India League, You has officiated in some exciting games – the most prominent being the Tamil Nadu Dragons-Team Gonasika match where the Charles Group-backed franchise won 6-5 in a match that witnessed 11 goals being scored – most goals scored in any match so far. He also hogged the umpiring limelight in the Hyderabad Toofans-Kalianga Lancers match as well as the Tamil Nadu Dragons-Hyderabad Toofans match.

Umpiring became a way for the 42-year-old South Korea following a distinguished playing career for South Korea. A proficient striker in his salad days, the three-time Olympian made 132 international appearances and scored 31 goals, representing South Korea at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics, respectively.

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You has made his presence felt as a hockey umpire with a string of impressive performances in the Asian Champions Trophy and Asia Cup. It may be worth recalling that the South Korean had officiated the India-China final match of the 2024 Men’s Asian Champions Trophy at Hulunbuir as well as the India-Malaysia final match of the 2023 Men’s Asian Champions Trophy at Rajgir. You also carried out umpiring duties in the India-Japan semifinal tie of the 2021 Men’s Asian Champions Trophy at Dhaka besides blowing the whistle at the 2022 Asia Cup at Jakarta.

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As far as his playing days are concerned, the three-time Olympian scored in South Korea’s campaign opener at the 2004 Olympics in their 1-1 draw against Spain and again scored a brace in South Korea’s campaign opener at the 2012 Olympics in their 2-0 win over New Zealand. At the 2008 Olympics, You scored twice in their 3-1 win over Belgium. South Korea had finished 8th, 6th and 8th in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic editions, respectively.

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The diminutive former ace forward is famously remembered for scoring two crucial goals in their eye-catching 3-2 win over the mighty Netherlands at the 2006 World Cup at Monchengladbach – a World Cup where South Korea had finished 4th after losing to Australia in the semifinals and subsequently to Spain in extra time in the bronze medal play-off.

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You developed his interest for hockey after he called time on his playing career after the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. He initially jumped in the domestic coaching circuit before switched to umpiring. One hopes that the umpiring prowess of You gets noticed by the people who matter at FIH, and we get to see the South Korean in big-ticket tourneys such as the World Cup and Olympics.