U is for Umpire

Any sport in world is not complete without its Umpires or Referees. They are the people whose decisions can completely turn the game around. Below are some women who are making their mark in this most important field of sports.

Maria Piedade Rebello

Football is most loved game across the world. Try and notice the amount of craze among masses during FIFA world cup.

Maria is the first FIFA-listed women's referee from India (Check out the listing at FIFA). She has also been the former captain of India women’s football team. Altough she took early retirement from the game, but she could not put herself away from the pitch.

She says that, “…initially players may have thought that I don't know the rules of the game, but I'm strict, I've proven myself and now I'm more respected.”.

Image and information sources:

http://www.firstpost.com/sports/they-thought-i-didnt-know-the-rules-of-the-game-indias-top-female-ref-maria-rebello-996809.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Rebello

http://static.goal.com/298100/298141_heroa.jpg

Vrushali Upadhye

A science graduate from Maharashtra Education Society’s (MES) Abasaheb Garware College, Vrushali took to umpiring badminton to pursue her passion for the same. Vrushali is India’s first Female World Badminton Federation (WBF) accredited umpire.

Vrushali first took to badminton umpiring in the eighties and became a grade II umpire in 1986 before becoming a grade I umpire in 1993.

Image and information source;

http://www.sportskeeda.com/badminton/exclusive-interview-indias-first-wbf-woman-accredited-umpire-vrushali-upadhye

Snehal Bendke

Ever seen a girl whistling around a gang of tall and handsome guys and all of them following her sincerely? Snehal Bendke is one young girl who runs among the rude men and women and controls them with her whistle. Snehal took up to referring at the young age of 22 on the persuasion of her coach to give the referee exam.

Snehal along with Chinese referee Ling Peng be became one of two first women referees to officiate at Men's FIBA Asia Championship in 2012. Here is her profile - FIBA

Image and information source:

http://contents.spin.ph/image/Phl-Kor-2.jpg

http://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/whistle-podu-interview-with-indias-first-woman-fiba-referee-snehal-bendke

Shubhda Bhosle

Finally, for India, cricket is the god of games. I am sure once cannot find a single child who did not played gali-cricket or bat-ball as his/her first games. While there are many young boys and girls making their mark in the game as players, Shubhda after playing for under-16, went on to become the youngest woman umpire in India. She grabbed the honor by successfully clearing the level-1 BCCI umpiring examination in June 2013.

Like any cricket lover, she is the big fan of Sachin Tendulkar. She umpires for both women and men’s matches with equal ease.  According to her, “I don’t think there is anything different thing  I do when I officiate in men’s matches. I don’t entertain any non-sense from any of the player let it be man or woman.  Such situation will take place in this game. My job is to remain imperturbable and to tell players to focus only on their game”

I wish her all the best and wish that she soon joins Kathy Cross - who became the first women umpire to be in ICC elite panel of umpires. 

Image and Information Source:

http://sportspapa.com/interview-shubhda-bhosle-youngest-women-umpire-india-rtp/

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Lv9Tw9P_FOE/mqdefault.jpg

This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is Women In A to Z Professions. Click at the link to check other professions women have excelled in and their respective links.