Football in India is witnessing a new inspiring story from the Northeast. Lalhruaizeli “Nupuii” Khiangte, a 28-year-old girl from Mizoram, is carving a name for herself not as a player, but as one of India’s rising football referees.
Nupuii’s journey in football started when she was in sixth grade. Coming from a sporting family in Aizawl, she was naturally drawn to sports. Her father plays badminton, her elder sister is a physiotherapist, her elder brother plays volleyball, and her younger brother plays basketball. Her mother has been a constant supporter for all the children, encouraging them in every step.
She represented Mizoram at sub-junior nationals in 2011, junior nationals in 2013–2014, and senior nationals in 2015. In 2014, she earned the distinction of representing India at the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship Qualifying Round in Jordan. Despite these achievements on the field, Nupuii made a bold decision the following year. At the age of 18, she ventured into refereeing, a path rarely chosen by young women in India at the time. 
“When I started refereeing in 2015, there was no women’s league in India, only the national championship,” Nupuii recalled. “It was a well-thought-out decision because the opportunities for women players in the country were limited back then. Refereeing offered me a way to stay connected to football and grow in my career.”
Her decision has paid off. Nupuii became only the second female from Mizoram to officiate an international match. She refereed during the SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship in Bhutan in August, where India emerged as champions. “Although it was my first international tournament, I had a wonderful experience on and off the field. I got to learn a lot from my colleagues and our referee assessor, Tayeb Shamsuzzaman,” she said, beaming with confidence. “This experience will definitely boost my confidence and help me reach my dream of officiating in a FIFA international competition soon.”
The Mizoram Football Association (MFA) has been a pillar of support in her journey. Nupuii explained that the association provides opportunities for female referees to officiate in tournaments like the Mizoram Premier League, RFYC Naupang League, RF Development League, and various village competitions. These matches offer the right kind of exposure and help officials improve their skills.
Nupuii officially became a national referee in 2022. She believes that refereeing in national and state tournaments, along with the growing number of football competitions in Mizoram, has helped her develop as an official. “When the Indian Women’s League started in 2016, it gave players more opportunities, but at that time, refereeing was better for my growth. More tournaments in Mizoram have also allowed officials like me to improve continuously,” she said.
