Uvena Fernandes on Friday became the first Indian woman to be chosen to referee a Fifa final. She will take charge as the assistant referee in the deciding match at the Women's U-17 Football World Cup between Japan and North Korea in Jordan. She has already officiated three matches in the tournament.

Chief of the All India Football Federation Goutam Kar said "This is a historic moment for Indian football. Her success at that level in refereeing is entirely because of her own commitment, diligence and faith in herself. She is a role model for the younger generation of referees."

Fernandes had been upset after she was not chosen to officiate the semifinals of the tournament. "She was left speechless when Fifa announced her name for the final. Uvena deserves it," Kar said. "She can deliver under extreme pressure; she always remains calm on the field."

The 35-year-old Goan worked as an Indian Air Force squadron leader in Assam before her refereeing career took off. "She ticks all the boxes to reach the highest level in refereeing," the AIFF chief said, adding that they now aim to help her officiate matches in the women's Fifa World Cup in 2019, Deccan Chronicle reported.

Fernandes' latest achievement came after she made history in July, when she became the first Indian woman chosen as a referee for the Fifa U-17 tournament, which began on September 30. According to Kar, K Shankar was the only Indian referee to have officiated a Fifa event before Fernandes. He, too, had worked as an assistant at the 2002 Fifa World Cup.