{
  "id": 6561838,
  "title": "Pune: Kishor Choudhari's Journey From Football Boots To Referee's Whistle",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/pune-kishor-choudharis-journey-from-football-boots-to-referees-whistle",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-10T07:35:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/pune-kishor-choudharis-journey-from-football-boots-to-referees-whistle"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the city of Pune, Kishor Choudhari has transformed from a teenage football prodigy to a respected national-level referee. Growing up, he was coached by his father, Gangaram Choudhary, who was a referee and coach in Pune's football scene during the early 2000s. Kishor, initially aspiring to be a footballer, switched focus to refereeing after realizing the value of his playing experience in guiding his decisions on the field. His father's teachings and encouragement played a significant role in Kishor's journey, enabling him to balance his professional career as a Central Railway employee with his role as a referee in major domestic competitions. Despite the demanding nature of his second career, Kishor maintains a deep connection to football, stating that his time as a player has allowed him to remain deeply involved with the sport. His journey is a testament to his dedication and the continuous influence of his father's guidance, as he now stands on the same grounds his father once walked, wielding the same whistle.",
  "summary": "Pune: Coached by his referee father, Gangaram, as a teenager, Kishor Choudhari once dreamt of playing for Maharashtra. Today, the Central Railway employee based in Pune is making his mark as a national-level referee. There was a time when Kishor Choudhari wanted to be on the other side of the whistle. As a teenager in Pune, he was a promising footballer, playing as a left-half and earning a…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}