Now living in Kathmandu, her life is a far cry from her family’s village existence six hours north at the feet of the Himalayas.

The group defies many conventions, not least of which is a culture that sees women marry young and give up whatever job they may hold to raise a family.

While in Britain many assume the Nepalese see the Army as an escape route from poverty, the girls in Lina’s circle are from mostly middle-class families, aged 18 to 22.

HARD WORK: Lina must be determined to become a Ghurka PIC: Bhusan Dahal

They are also all students, with subjects ranging from the arts to microbiology – and none has any intention of settling in Britain after retiring from service.

They are under no illusions that this will be their hardest challenge. They must leave school with good marks, a good grasp of English and pass the physical entrance test: 14 heaves to the high beam, 75 bench presses in a minute and 70 sit-ups in two minutes. They also need perfect hearing and vision.

Ultimately, Lina will be expected to run three miles up the Hima-layas carrying a 50lb rucksack.

The three-month training period that follows features daily marches, drills and classes in English and maths.

More than 1,500 applicants fight for fewer than 300 vacancies. Last year, none of the 50 women in a trial application succeeded, due to lack of preparation and ignorance of the standards required.

Lina and her group claim they know exactly what is needed and have what it takes. They train under Krishna Kumar Pun, a former Gurkha corporal who sank his life savings into the gym.

The sign over the entrance reads “British Army physical training and education for potential recruits” and its walls are covered with neatly mounted photographs of those who made the grade.

Lina said: “At first it was difficult. I was getting up earlier, training, going to school and then more training. But slowly it gets easier.”

For Lina, joining means more than a healthy salary, job security for 15 years and a pension.

“My father was a Gurkha for 19 years and this life has been in my family since I was a girl,” she said. “Until last year, I had no idea I would ever be allowed to join. I assumed I would get a good job in Kathmandu. But then everything changed. Most of us here are lucky. Our families encourage and support us to be all that we can be.”

She admits, however, that not all men in Nepal approve. “There are men who see this as not a life for a woman. They may be insecure, they cannot cope with the idea of a woman doing well,” she said. “But we are girls of the new generation. We want to stand on our own feet.

“I will never marry one of those men because a man like that would not respect what I’m trying to achieve. Being a Gurkha means something that brings me pride. I want to contribute to that tradition.

“I am also proud of Nepal and do not want to live anywhere else after I retire. I don’t want to join because I don’t have any options. I want to climb the ladder. I want to be the first female Colonel.”

The Ministry of Defence confirmed it is “conducting a study to determine the feasibility of recruitment of Nepalese women”. It will make its formal decision next year.

Lina has already decided and she and her group have some serious work to do in the meantime.