Having never officiated at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™, the 35-year-old made her debut in style by taking charge of the opening game in front of a packed crowd, on a night that would kickstart a new era in women’s football in Asia.

The occasion carried its own unique demands as the tone-setter of the competition, and while the eyes are on the referee, Dong was quick to emphasise the central role played by the entire cast involved.

“It’s not just me as a referee on the field,” she said. “It’s an entire team and we all work together to cooperate, manage the game, and enforce the Laws of the Game.”

While overseeing the inaugural match marked a defining moment in her journey, Dong acknowledged how the achievement was also a testament to the pathway that shaped her into one of Asia’s most accomplished officials - the AFC Referees Academy.

A member of the inaugural batch in 2017, Dong entered the programme at a time when it was in its infancy, both in terms of instructors and the curriculum, but the Henan-born official believes that the subsequent experience helped her beyond the field to find her identity.

“Everything, from fitness and practical training to what I learned in the classroom and on the field, improved my understanding of football,” she recalled. “Most importantly, when I analyse a match incident, my logic and thinking have improved. It also helped me find my own personality.”

The Academy’s structured environment also prepared her for historic breakthroughs, as Dong became the first graduate of the programme to officiate at a FIFA competition with her appointment to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia in 2024, a landmark not just for her, but for the Academy itself.

“I was very happy to be the first graduate of the Academy to officiate at a FIFA competition, but it was just the beginning,” she said. “In the future, there will be many more AFC Referees Academy graduates at FIFA competitions. I also believe that we have the ability to officiate the final match of FIFA competitions.

“Moreover, the Academy is preparing us for the biggest stages very well. When I went to my first FIFA competition, I wasn’t a bit overwhelmed because I found everything to be exactly the same as AFC standards.”

A lot has happened in Dong’s glittering career since her successful endeavour in Colombia, where she refereed in the Quarter-final clash between the Netherlands and the hosts, including a first-ever appearance as a referee in AFC men’s competitions, such as the AFC Champions League Two™ and the AFC U17 Asian Cup™, which she admits helped her push herself to become better.

“With the level of Asian football becoming better and better, both in men’s and women’s games, referees must meet the demands of the game,” she said. “The AFC always supports us and helps women referees officiate in men’s competitions, and even though it is challenging to maintain our fitness levels and constantly stay updated on our game analysis skills, it is a very good opportunity as it pushes us to become better at our jobs.”

Launched on the AFC Women’s Football Day in 2018, the AFC’s It’s My Game campaign continues to honour inspiring women in football throughout the world’s largest Continent, reaching millions of people via the AFC’s digital channels.