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Footballer Turned Police Officer, Now Patrols Streets During The Pandemic

Wearing the traditional khaki uniform with a surgical mask and a pair of gloves for protection, Indumathi is barely recognisable but fulfilling her duty around Anna Nagar, Chennai.

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Ria Das
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Indumathi Kathiresan

Indian women’s team midfielder Indumathi Kathiresan is quietly going about her work. She is busy patrolling the streets of Chennai, in her khaki uniform. The 25-year-old is a police inspector and is reporting for duty during this coronavirus crisis. Keeping the streets peaceful, she helps commuters understand the importance of taking precautions.

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Indumathi had last played for the Sethu FC in the Indian Women's League on May 22, 2019 and has been missing top-level football action since then. She has now transformed as a sub-Inspector in Tamil Nadu Police. Wearing the traditional khaki uniform with a surgical mask and a pair of gloves for protection, Indumathi is barely recognisable but fulfilling her duty around Anna Nagar, Chennai.

“It has been a difficult situation for the entire country. But taking the necessary precautions is paramount to the safety of one and all,” said Indumathi to the All India Football Federation. “We try to ensure that everybody is observing the guidelines and that nobody who does not need to be outside.”

Key Takeaways:

  • Indumathi Kathiresan, Indian women’s football team midfielder, is a Sub-Inspector in Tamil Nadu Police and patrolling the streets in the traditional khaki uniform. 
  • Indumathi is manning the streets of Anna Nagar in Chennai amid the coronavirus lockdown.
  • She has made 34 appearances for India and scored 12 goals so far, since debuting in 2014.

Indumathi reports for duty at seven in the morning, and keeps patrolling the streets till almost midnight every day. “It has been a demanding time for me personally. I have barely had the time to do anything else. In difficult times like these, you generally want to spend some time with your family, but I have not had much opportunities to do that,” Indumathi informed. “It is a call for the nation. I have to play for the nation every day during Covid19 pandemic, and I had to respond fast.”

Amid the lockdown,  this creative midfielder says her duty routines keep changing daily and she feels that the lockdown has been especially difficult for her fellow police officers. “Our duty schedules keep changing. Sometimes we are on night duty as well, sometimes vehicle-check, and so on,” the Tamil Nadu Police Sub-Inspector stated. “Some of us like myself, have to travel long distances to our stations as well. It has been a difficult time. But I don’t have any complaints.”

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Despite such difficulties, however, the 2019 SAFF Women’s Championship joint-top scorer says that she is happy to serve her country. “Of course, it is an absolute honour to play for India. There are some moments in the India jersey, like when we qualified for the Olympic Qualifiers Round 2, or when we won the SAFF Championship last year…I will never forget these moments,” she said.

“It has been a difficult situation for the entire country. But taking the necessary precautions is paramount to the safety of one and all.”

"But I also take a lot of pride in serving the country in my police uniform, at a time when the nation needs us the most. I will keep serving as long as my nation needs me to serve,” said the footballer.

“It is for the people of this country that my colleagues and myself are working day and night. We hope that you too, in turn, would help us out by following the safety precautions and keeping yourself safe,” said Indumathi, who has made 34 appearances for India and scored 12 goals since debuting in 2014.

Picture Credit: the-aiff.com

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