| |
 |
| |
Tennis
pros take a brilliant shot at umpiring
 |
 Fancy
umpiring a tennis match featuring Bjorn Borg? Tennis
ace Sheetal Iyer nee Kannamwar did just that and
admits it was 'Advantage Sheetal' all the way. While
Bjorn was his cool self, it was Sheetal who needed
to remain calm. Meet Pune based Sheetal who along
with sister Payal Kannamwar and Reetu Sethi belong
to the rare breed of lady tennis umpires in the
country. In the city to umpire an International
ladies tennis tournament, the trio took time off
to answer a couple of questions, we at Poonabest
posed them.
Q. On their Background
Sheetal - "I was ranked India's number
one in the under 18 category in the year 1986-87
and have represented the country in the world youth
cup in 1986". Reetu has been a National
Champion and represented India in the Junior ITF
tournament in 1995. Payal was ranked number
one in the country in the under 12 category in the
year 1988-89.
Q. On their transition from a tennis player
to a tennis referee
Sheetal - After we stopped playing professional
tennis, we started coaching in Mumbai and also officiated
at local and state level matches. In 1998, Puneet
Gupta and Niteen Kannamwar who were then Bronze
Badge Umpires were recommended by the ITF to take
the Level 1 Umpire exam. The exam is basically an
introduction to all the rules of the Tennis game.
It was then that we decided to give the examination
a shot.
Payal and Reetu took the exam in Mumbai, while I
appeared from Pune. Needless to say, all the three
of us passed the exam.
 Q.
On the rationale behind attempting the Level 2 umpire
exam?
A. Till about five years ago, we did not have
many international Tennis tournaments in the country
However, the last five years has witness many international
tournaments being held in India, that has in turn
led to the need for professional Tennis umpires.
The level 2 Certificate exams are held twice a year
at centres across the world. In Asia, India was
selected as the centre to conduct the exams for
the first time in 1999
Reetu and I were among the 4 Indian ladies who took
the examination in India. Payal appeared and passed
the examination from Bangkok in the year 2000.
Q. On the Occupational hazards.
Sheetal - One problem that we face is being
asked to officiate at short notice. One has to be
ready to travel outside the city for long periods
of time and make the requisite arrangements in a
limited time.
Q. On the most exciting match they umpired.
Sheetal - Undoubtedly, the Tennis Legends
tournament that was held in Mumbai recently. It
was a real treat to umpire the matches featuring
Bjorn Borg, as he has been our childhood hero.
 Q.
On the reaction of players to women umpires.
Sheetal - The initial years were not exactly
hunky dory as it took players a while to get used
to women umpires. Now of course the players have
got used to the idea, respect our judgement and
appreciate our work.
Q. On umpiring matches abroad
Sheetal - I have been to Bangladesh for
the 10,000 $ prize money Men’s tennis tournament.
All the three of us
have gone to Dubai as Line umpires for a ladies
tournament, which featured Mary Pierce and Martina
Hinges. among others.
Wow! All we at poonabest wish to add is "way
to go gals."
By Rahul Surkund
Photos- By HariKrishna |
|
|
|
|
|
|
