PANAJI: Goa’s Shikha Pathak has secured a significant career milestone with her selection as a referee for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, scheduled from December 9 to 20, across Bangkok and Chonburi.
The Vasco-based official, well known in India’s Ju-Jitsu circuit, has been invited by the organisers and the Ju-Jitsu International Federation to join the international referee panel, a move aimed at ensuring high technical standards and neutrality. For Goa and India, it’s a moment of pride.
Pathak didn’t hold back her excitement. “It is an immense honour to be chosen for this role. Representing India on such a stage is a dream come true,” she said, adding that she intends to uphold the highest standards of fairness and professionalism during the games.
Her rise has been driven by years of training, certification, and hands-on experience. Within India’s Ju-Jitsu community, her achievement is being celebrated not just as a personal victory but as a motivating example for young athletes and officials.
Sports bodies in Goa say her role at the Games will not only strengthen India’s visibility internationally, but also bring valuable learning back to the local ecosystem.
