Discovering the proper steadiness between making certain clean movement of play for shuttlers and sticking assiduously to guidelines, is what 51-year-old Parijat Natu is tasked with. As deputy chief referee of the Yonex Dawn thirty first Smt Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India Junior Rating Prize Cash Match, when he’s referred to as by an umpire for a line name dispute between two gamers, he has the sensible phrases of his distant uncle, Girish Natu, to fall again on.
Natu Sr, the primary Indian umpire to officiate at Olympics in Beijing in 2008 and the primary Indian BWF referee – a faculty principal-like determine in worldwide badminton, revered by fellow officers and feared by gamers. “Sport is at all times for the gamers. And that’s supreme for umpires and officers,” the nephew was informed. “However then if one has the conviction and is making a call, then regardless of the participant says mustn’t impression the road choose or the umpire’s resolution based mostly on all of the proof. And that’s what I comply with as a nationwide stage referee too,” says Parijat whereas talking with The Indian Categorical on the Tau Devi Lal Sports activities Complicated
Whereas his uncle had began his umpiring journey in badminton greater than 43 years in the past, Parijat’s began as a participant in Sangli. Journeys to go to his uncle at Pune would additionally see him watching Natu officiating in native tournaments in Pune within the 1980’s however Parijat’s focus was to construct a profession in badminton. A few state titles aside, there was no headway and he appeared for his first umpires examination in 1997.
Whereas his uncle was the event director on this 12 months’s All England Championships aside from officiating as deputy referee in Paris Olympics, Parijat’s counts officiating in 2017 Nationals finals involving the double’s pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty as his excessive level.
“My uncle additionally taught me to by no means see gamers as stars. Simply see them as gamers like you might be officers, nothing huge or nothing lesser in any function. There are 17 guidelines within the BWF guidelines booklet – the very best information. As soon as in a match between an Indonesian and Malaysian at 20-19, one participant was delaying receiving the serve. So he awarded the profitable level to the server. There was a hue and cry however guidelines are guidelines and that’s what he did,” Parijat remembers
With the highlight on them and ill-tempered gamers, they must be crystal clear on guidelines.
“Whereas making an attempt to win, gamers use delaying ways like diving on courtroom to get it wiped, or drip sweat to counter fatigue. However my job is to be as cheap as I can and see that no guidelines are taken undue benefit of. That’s our mantra,” concludes Parijat.