Chaitali Paul and Keilyani Chonthem Chanu at JRD Tata Sports Complex. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, Sept. 14: Till now, it was considered a male domain, but women are ready to make inroads into the world of refereeing.

The decision of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to allow women referees to conduct international junior men’s tournament has come as a pleasant surprise to Indian women football sensations, and Chaitali Paul, Maria Rebello and Keilyani Chonthem Chanu — all FIFA referees — are no exceptions.

The threesome, along with 15 men referees, were in the city today to attend the physical fitness test for 2010 list of international referees at the JRD Tata Sports Complex.

Chaitali, Maria and Keilyani, who have measured the country’s grounds with whistles in their hands during women’s tournaments, are harbouring dreams of making it big in the profession which was so far considered a male domain. “The job is tough but not impossible. We are focussed and will like to cash in on the opportunity,” they said.

The eligibility criteria for conducting international matches, women referees are required to pass fitness test standard of their men counterparts. At present, only one women referee — Bentla D'Coth — has crossed the hurdle.

“The AFC’s decision has opened doors of opportuni-ties to display our refereeing skills on international men’s turf also,” said Chaitali, who hails from Hoogly district of Bengal.

Keilyani, a 34-year-old Manipuri and an assistant referee, echoed her. “Clearing the fitness test by matching men’s standard is quite a challenge but I am working hard with a positive mind,” she added in a confident voice.

Maria, a Goan, tripped in the fitness test held in Kuala Lumpur in May 2009.

The three have conducted several women’s tournaments in the country. They have also officiated some junior men’s matches in the past. There are very few women referees in the world.

Colonel Gautam Kar, the deputy general secretary of All India Football Federation (AIFF) and an AFC match commissioner, said it was all about attaining the right timing in sprint and walk to qualify for refereeing.

He added that women referees have to meet a timing of 6.2 secs while completing each of the six 40m sprints, 10 sprints of 150m are to be done within a timing of 30 secs in each of the laps. They also have to complete as many laps of walking (50m) by taking 35 secs each. “These timings have to be attained by FIFA men referees,” he said.

The fitness test held today was separate from the ones the women have to appear for. The women referees will have to wait till the AFC comes out with a fresh schedule.

The drills today were conducted under the supervision of Col Kar, Binod Kumar Singh (Jamshedpur), S. Shetty (Mumbai) and Ravi Shankar (Delhi) — all AIFF referee instructors.