📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Indian Motorcycle digitized by Mustafa Umut Sarac
Sports
India’s Junior Nationals Witness First All-Women Chair Umpiring Panel in Gangtok
✍️ Sportstar
🗓 15 Nov 2026, 02:02 AM
👁 31
The Indian Junior Badminton Nationals in Gangtok marked a historic moment when the chair umpiring panel was composed entirely of women, a first for the country.
The 2024 Indian Junior Badminton Nationals held in Gangtok, Sikkim, featured a landmark moment when the chair umpiring panel was staffed exclusively by women. The panel comprised Chair Umpire Pooja Sharma and Line Umpires Anjali Mehta and Ritu Singh, all of whom are seasoned officials with national and international experience.
This arrangement marked the first time that an all-women umpiring panel has officiated a national badminton championship in India. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) announced the decision as part of its ongoing efforts to promote gender equality within the sport.
Officials noted that the panel’s presence could inspire more women to pursue careers in officiating, a field traditionally dominated by men. The BAI also highlighted that the panel met all the International Badminton Federation’s (BWF) standards for chair and line umpiring.
The matches proceeded smoothly, with commentators praising the professionalism of the panel. The BAI plans to evaluate the impact of this initiative and may consider expanding the use of all-women panels in future tournaments.
This arrangement marked the first time that an all-women umpiring panel has officiated a national badminton championship in India. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) announced the decision as part of its ongoing efforts to promote gender equality within the sport.
Officials noted that the panel’s presence could inspire more women to pursue careers in officiating, a field traditionally dominated by men. The BAI also highlighted that the panel met all the International Badminton Federation’s (BWF) standards for chair and line umpiring.
The matches proceeded smoothly, with commentators praising the professionalism of the panel. The BAI plans to evaluate the impact of this initiative and may consider expanding the use of all-women panels in future tournaments.