Pune's Vrushali Upadhye is country’s first World Badminton Federation woman official
A science graduate from Maharashtra Education Society’s (MES) Abasaheb Garware College, Vrushali is among those new-age women who are successfully juggling home and career.
Pune’s Vrushali Upadhye became the only woman official from the country to be accredited as a World Badminton Federation (WBF) official. The Kothrud resident’s dedication and determination while discharging her responsibility as a badminton line judge for 25 years has paid off.
A science graduate from Maharashtra Education Society’s (MES) Abasaheb Garware College, Vrushali is amongst those new-age women who are successfully juggling home and career.“I also assist my husband in his business and look after my college-going daughter,” she said, adding that she still finds time to hit the court and learn more about the rules and regulations of the game.
“I used to play the game, but not at the competitive level. Then I decided to work as a line judge. Finally, the decision has paid off,” she said.
Vrushali’s first recognition came in 1986, when she cleared the Grade 2 national referee exam. “It was during one of the international contests in Indonesia when I was the line judge for Lee Chong Wei and Taufik Hidayat match. At that time I decided that I should sit on the chair up there and not on the sidelines.
Hence, after my Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) certified officiating in 2002, I started preparing for the accredited official exam. It took 10 years and finally I have achieved my goal,” said Vrushali.
Vrushali will get her first assignment as a referee in the forthcoming Sayyed Modi International Badminton Championship to be held in Lucknow later next month. Pune’s Uday Sane and Girish Natu along with Fine C Dathan and Apinder Pal Singh from Delhi are the other officials on the WBF’s radar.