Meet Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh who led 'Operation Sindoor' media briefing

From the name of the operation to the officers chosen to brief the media, 'Operation Sindoor' has put women first throughout. The briefing held at the National Media Centre was chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who was flanked by Colonel Sophia Qureshi of the Corps of Signals and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force.

Col Sophia Qureshi

Col Qureshi had created history in 2016 by becoming the first woman officer to lead a training contingent of the Indian Army at Force 18, an ASEAN Plus multinational field training exercise. She led the 40-member Indian contingent at the exercise in Pune. As the exercise was ASEAN Plus, countries including China, USA, Russia, Japan and South Korea had attended.

Reports from 2016 had said she comes from a family with a legacy of service in the armed forces. Her grandfather reportedly served in the Indian Army and her husband is in the Army’s Mechanised Infantry Regiment.

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Among the decorations that Colonel Qureshi wore to the briefing were the nine- and 20-years long service ribbons, the Videsh Seva Medal for overseas service, and the 75th Independence Anniversary Medal. She had two clasps each to the Sainya Seva Medal for non-operational service under conditions of hardship and severe climate, and the Special Service Medal, among other decorations highlighting her stature.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh

Among her decorations, the wing commander was sporting the Indian Air Force pilot's badge, the Special Service Medal awarded for operational services, the High Altitude Medal granted to personnel with a minimum of 180 days of service above 9000ft, the nine-years long service medal, the 75th Independence Anniversary Medal and the Sainya Seva Medal for non-operational service under conditions of hardship and severe climate.

In addition to the medals her uniform displayed the Chief of the Air Staff commendation card on her left pocket and what could be the Vice Chief of the Air Staff Commendation Card on her right pocket.

News reports said Wing Commander Singh is a helicopter pilot with over 2,500 hours of flying experience, including in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast. Reportedly, she is also a mountaineer who was part of the all-woman tri-services team that scaled Mt. Manirang, which stands at 21,650ft, in Himachal Pradesh.

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