For football enthusiasts from Northeast, there is some good news as Riiohlang Dhar, a woman constable from Meghalaya Police, and Ranjita Devi Tekcham from Manipur have made it to the coveted list of elite FIFA International referees.
Tekcham and Dhar are among the four women referee selected from India in a recently released list. While Tekcham has been named as a referee, Dhar, has been picked as an assistant referee.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma took to twitter to congratulate her. He wrote, “Big congratulations to WC Riiohlang Dhar, 1st MLP, for qualifying as a #FIFA International Referee. She is among 4 #women selected from India.
Wishing her good luck and many more success!”
Big congratulations to WC Riiohlang Dhar, 1st MLP, for qualifying as a #FIFA International Referee. She is among 4 #women selected from India.
Wishing her good luck and many more success!@KirenRijiju @IndiaSports @IndianFootball @MeghalayaPolice pic.twitter.com/reZHr09fAj
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) October 24, 2020
Earlier in 2018, Dhar was one among the three FIFA woman referees from India, to pass the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) course for ‘elite’ referees.
Hailing from Jowai town in West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, Dhar was encourage by her parents to pursue her love for football.
However, she was on the brim of quitting the sport, and dream of being a women referee after her parents passed away. Much like her, her father was also a policeman and always took a day off on the day of her match.
Remembering such moments, she pulled herself together and gather the spirit to work on her dream.
Though met with negative comments, Dhar ignored them and moved towards achieving her dream, and now is at an all-time career high.
Dhar’s story and triumphs has made the state proud, and also inspired women and men alike.
The other two women referees from India are Barman Kanika and Uvena Fernandes.
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