# Tamil Nadu gets its first transgender umpire Rithika Sri 2026-08-26T13:52:39+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet R. Rithika Sri, a 31-year-old transwoman from Salem, has become the first transgender umpire in Tamil Nadu after the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association revised its application form to include an 'Other' gender category for the State Panel Umpire exams. Rithika, who has been umpiring in the Salem and Coimbatore circuit since 2021, was instrumental in pushing for the change. Born R. Muthuraj, she holds a diploma in Mechanical Engineering and began umpiring after returning to Tamil Nadu during the COVID-19 pandemic. She will appear for the TNCA umpire exams in June and aims to eventually clear the BCCI exams. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Rithika's achievement comes as Indian cricket bodies slowly adopt more inclusive policies. The BCCI introduced a transgender policy in 2023 allowing players to register under a third gender category, but implementation at the state level has been uneven. TNCA's change is notable because it opens the umpiring pipeline, not just participation. The real test will be whether other state associations follow, and how quickly the BCCI exam system adapts. Rithika's next milestone is the TNCA exam in June, which will determine if she can officiate at the state level. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Straight news feature with direct quotes and no editorial slant This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: BCCI, Coimbatore, Rithika Sri, Salem, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/tamil-nadu-gets-its-first-transgender-umpire-rithika-sri/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/tamil-nadu-gets-its-first-transgender-umpire-rithika-sri/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/