Woman referee Maria finally in AFC Elite Panel

NEW DELHI: Maria Rebello became the second Indian women referee to make it to AFC Elite Panel after her name was approved by the continental body on Monday.
Maria, who hails from Goa, had become the first Indian woman referee to officiate in the senior men's National Championships tournament for the Santosh Trophy in July.
An AFC official had flown down to Kolkata to watch the match and then recommended the 38-year-old former India international to the Elite Panel.
The AFC Referees Committee in its meeting on November 22 approved Maria's name and it was ratified by the AFC Executive Committee on November 24.
Maria joins another Indian Pratap Singh in the AFC Elite Panel of Referees for 2011.
Shaji Kurien and Dinesh Nair were included in the AFC Elite Assistant Referees while Arumughan Rowan and Chongtham Keilyani Chanu found place in the panels of Elite Fourth Official and Elite Women Assistant Referee.
Kerala's Bentla D'Coth was the first Indian woman to find a place in the AFC Elite Panel of Referees. She was in the panel from 2001 to 2010.