SHILLONG:
The state has a number of athletes who have made a name for themselves and gained recognition for the various athletic events they have taken part in, however, there are some, who despite being sportspersons, are not known. Such a person is Balarina Syiem, an international level badminton umpire from Shillong who has made not only the state but the country proud.
Syiem, a badminton player from Lumkshaid, Lower Mawprem in Shillong, Meghalaya, is the only East Asian badminton player to serve as an umpire at the international level. She is also the second woman from among 17 umpires in India, with 15 being men. After her senior umpire retires in December, she will be the sole female umpire in the country.
Apart from being a full-time badminton coach in Shillong, she is also the District Sports Officer (DSO) of West Khasi Hills District.
Earlier in 2018, she and 11 others, who are certified Badminton Asia Umpires, decided to take their badminton umpiring to the next level, and make the grade of Badminton World Federation (BWF) umpires.
As per badmintonasia.org, Syiem, who was the only one from India to attempt the upgradation course conducted in Wuhan, China, was excited to have come so far in her umpiring.
“This is a great opportunity for me to go up the ladder in my umpiring. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be successful in Wuhan,” Syiem, a former player herself, was quoted as saying then.