The women football players of the DPRK took the first place in the 13th Asian Women’s Football Championship held in Juche 90 (2001), bringing great delight and excitement to all people across the country.
Ri Hong Sil who umpired the championship was awarded the title of Asian elite woman referee and a cup.
After she made her debut as a chief referee in an international match in 1997, she umpired many international matches until 2012.
From her childhood, she had an aptitude for running. After graduation from a middle school, she became an athlete of the then North Hamgyong Provincial Sports Club.
Afterwards, she became a footballer. She set a higher goal and redoubled her efforts to acquire technical movements with high degrees of difficulty.
In the women’s football match of the national people’s games held in Pyongyang in 1988, she drew the attention of football experts and fans.
Later, she was promoted to the first women’s national football team of the country and played as a centre forward.
She scored five goals in the international women’s football tournament held in the then Czechoslovakia in 1989.
She also displayed thrilling scoring in the fifth international women’s football tournament and the women’s football match of the 11th Asian Games in 1990.
She became the first Merited Athlete among Korean women footballers. After graduating from Korea University of Physical Education, she served as the first DPRK woman referee for FIFA.
After her retirement from active referee, she worked as an instructor at Kim Il Sung Stadium Juvenile Sports School, training several ace footballers.
She is now working as an instructor at Pyongyang International Football School.
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