Uvena Fernandes Becomes India's First Woman Referee at a FIFA World Cup

Uvena Fernandes, an Indian referee, is set to officiate at the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup to be held in Jordan later this year.

The 34-year-old Fernandes, who also featured at the Asian Games in Incheon in 2014, will become the second referee from the country after K Shankar, who was part of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, to officiate at a World Cup.

"It is like a dream come true. It is a wonderful opportunity for me and I am excited to see myself officiate in a FIFA World Cup," she told the All India Football Federation website after her selection.

"I am still coming to terms with the fact that I have been appointed to officiate in the U-17 World Cup in Jordan. It is not only a boost for me, it's a boost for women's football and women's refereeing in general," she added.

A former professional footballer herself, Uvena Fernandes had represented India at the 2003 AFC Asian Women's Championship.

Later that year, she took up refereeing as a profession, and quickly rose through the ranks to go on and officiate in youth tournaments, including the Subroto Cup, India's most prestigious international school-level competition conducted by the Indian Air Force.

The former India international joined the Air Force Academy in 2006, going on to become a flight lieutenant and serving as an air traffic controller.

Fernandes, who is an assistant referee, came to prominence in 2012 when she was certified as a Category 2 referee by the AIFF, allowing her to officiate in national-level matches.

She earned her FIFA badge in 2014, the same year she went to Incheon, qualifying her to officiate in international games.

However, featuring in a major FIFA event will surely be the biggest moment in what has been a successful career for the young referee so far.