Breaking into a male preserve
Today the gender divide has really become blurred with women breaking into almost every male bastion from flying airliners to becoming soldiers.
And the latest among them is a lady to become a football referee and judge men’s football tournaments.
A former footballer herself, Kripa has made a foray into the exclusive male preserve after clearing the refereeship examination conducted by the Jharkhand Referee Association under the aegis of the Chhotanagpur Athletic Association. Kripa has already officiated three matches of Ranchi district Men’s B Division football league with much fanfare recently.
She says happily, “I have created a record and to the best of my information we do have female referees in India, but I am probably the first tribal girl to become one. I am very pleased and hope more girls would be encouraged to enter the arena and thereby that would increase popularity of the game. I have already proved my credentials in football after representing the State twice in a national soccer tourney. After hanging up my boots, by God’s grace, I will still be in the thick of action in a sport that I love dearly.”
Apparently Kripa has no dearth of assignments in her new avatar. She was selected to officiate in the inter-district women’s tourney at Hazaribagh a few months ago.
An experienced and skillful player herself, Kripa is very impressive on the football field,s said Sanjay Mahatao treasurer of the Jharkhand Football Association. He said “I am sure she will be good as good as her male counterparts on the ground.”
