T. Baskar officiated at the women’s singles summit clash of the Commonwealth table tennis championships at the Deendayal Upadhyaya Stadium in Surat recently. He is the only active blue badge umpire from Tamil Nadu.
Baskar’s second successive Commonwealth championships, according to him, have been memorable. “It’s a great pleasure and privilege to be associated with the championships. I have learnt a lot from the events. But there is always scope to learn more,” he said.
His work is appreciated by those who see him during a tournament. “He is good,” says N. Ganeshan, Competitions Manager, Table Tennis Federation of India.
Though he has been going about his job quietly and efficiently, he doesn’t want any attention on him. “We are just doing our job,” he said.
Actually, when he cleared a rigorous test to complete the coveted blue badge in umpiring during the Asian table tennis championships in Lucknow in 2009, Baskar complimented by none other than Albert Roojimans, Chairman, Umpires and Referees Committee of International Table Tennis Federation. Roojimans who had assessed him said: “You are doing a wonderful job.”
Complex processRecalling the incident, the Tamil Nadu umpire said the moment was special and would motivate him to the rest of his career. Baskar said the process (of getting a blue badge) was quite a complex one as it involved a written examination followed by four on-field evaluations by two/three independent observers and a telephonic interview, and compulsory evaluation every two years.
“It is a difficult process and I am extremely satisfied that I could come out with flying colours,” said Baskar.
Baskar said people with immense passion for the sport and a deep understanding of the rules could excel. “You also require players’ perspective and be able to justify your decisions within the ambit of law,” he said. He has the distinction of officiating as the main umpire in the women’s singles finals in two successive Commonwealth championships in 2013 & ‘15.
Taking umpiring as a hobby when he was 33-years-old as an employee of AG’s Office, Baskar — he was introduced to umpiring by coach Nagam Prasad — completed his international umpiring exam in 2002 and since then officiated in several State-ranking tournaments.
He was guided by M.J.S. Dilip Kumar, International umpire and National referee, and N. Ganeshan, who always insisted that “I read between the lines when I read a book” as reasons for him being able to continue to do the job with admirable commitment.
Baskar thanked the Tamil Nadu Table Tennis Association (particularly D.V. Sundar, Patron, TNTTA and J. Selvakumar, Treasurer, TNTTA), which had nominated him for the Asian championship in Lucknow where he got the blue badge and for the Asian junior championship in Mumbai in 2014.
“My name was not there in the initial list in Mumbai but for TNTTA’s intervention, I would have missed it,” he said.
A straight-talking man, Baskar said he was grateful to everyone in the table tennis fraternity for enabling him to perform his job well. He acknowledged AG’s Office, Chennai’s contribution in his career. “Umpiring is more than a passion for me. My wish is to do a better job every time I go for a match,” he said.
