The second Indian woman assistant referee to have been selected for the Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup football competition will take advice from Uvena Fernandes before the competition. 

Uvena was the first Indian woman referee to have been on the panel of referees for the Under-17 Women's World Cup. 

Riiolang Dhar from Meghalaya is the country's second woman assistant referee who has been selected among the 38 selected referees for the Women's Under-17 World Cup this year.

The competition is scheduled to be held in Dominican Republic from 10th October to 3rd November. 

The 34-year-old referee, speaking over the phone from her home divulged, "I have to be extraordinarily physically fit. I need to sharpen my observation and reflexes. I will take advice from Uvena as she has experience of participating in this competition. I will also take advice from the country's other senior referees and the assistant referees."

Riiohlang added, "I have been officiating matches as an assistant referee in the AFC-organized competitions for the last couple of years. I am aware of the standard of AFC-conducted matches. But World Cup, even though the Under-17 has a huge difference from the matches held in AFC competitions." 

After getting the news, Riiohlang remembered one of their best friends whose encouragement propelled her to start playing football. Otherwise, Riiohlang used to do athletics. She even represented Meghalaya in Inter-State Athletics championships in 100 meters, long, and high jump. 

"Her name was Jiva Mary. I did not know how to play even football. I loved athletics and basketball. Jiva pushed me to play football in a friendly match at the school on an independence day. But unfortunately, she did not get selected in the team and my journey with football began," described Riiohlang.

Riiohlang left playing football and joined referring in 2009. "We did not have much competition. So, following advice from a state football official I joined a course to learn the basics of referring. We were five women who created history by being the first professional referee from Meghalaya," revealed Riiohlang.

The employee of Meghalaya Police and still unmarried, also remembered her parents for her achievement and for their constant support. "Without the support of my parents, my state association, the AIFF, and my employers, I would not have achieved the feat."

Riiohlang sounded optimistic that more women would be joining the referring, especially the female referees who left referring after marriage. But at the same time, Riiohlang feels more competitions where women referees can take part should be introduced in Meghalaya to encourage the women referring.