Various government organizations in India, be it Central or State level are pushing for sports development day in and day out. Reflecting the fact is not a sports association but the Rajasthan Police Department. Yes, you heard that right!
Rajasthan Police – Developing a great sports culture
In less than three years, the Rajasthan police have come to forefront as a leading sports powerhouse in India. Some ground level altercations, a change in sports policy, coupled with hard work and training has drastically enhanced the performance of players/police. In just over two years the Rajasthan Police Department have won 90 medals in various competitions held across the country.
The new sports policy undertaken by the Rajasthan Police has been able to attract sporting talent from other organisations and states. Those police personnel instrumental in this positive change are former DGPs Omendra Bhardwaj and Manoj Bhatt. They gave extra attention to facilities. Other officers like, ADG (RAC) Rajiv Dasot and DGP O P Galhotra have taken keen interest in training and motivation of the players/police. Addl. SP Ram Singh of the Rajasthan Police Department along with and half a dozen coaches has been spending hours to spot talent and prepare them for best performance in tournaments.
Rajasthan Police – Upcoming Sports Talent
Among the most talked about players emerging from Rajasthan Police is Sapna Punia. She has been a part of the police force for the last eight years. Sapna who joined as constable has become a sub-inspector level officer due to her sporting excellence. She has won many medals at national level, and also participated in Rio Olympics. However, she failed to perform as per expectations. Yet, Sapna has not given up and she is training hard with the aim of winning the medal at the 2020 Olympics games.
Head constables with Rajasthan Police, Suman Kumari and Pooja Yadav have emerged as great medal prospects for India in wrestling. Coming from an economically modest background, Suman Kumari who belongs to a small village in Sikar, won Bronze in 48kg at the 66th All India Police Games. Pooja too, comes from same modest family background. She won bronze in the same weight category at 65th All India Police Games in 2016. Both these women officers have been inspired by Geeta and Babita Phogat.
Along with conventional sports like wrestling and athletics, Rajasthan Police also has players who got recognition in non-conventional sports as well. Sub-inspector Mukesh Choudhary and Vishwajeet S Wal have won medals in Wushu. Choudhary until now has won three gold, and two silver and bronze between 2012 and 2016, while Vishwajeet got four gold and two bronze.
Rajasthan Police – A Force to Reckon with in Sports
The positive change in the sports policy has enabled more players to join the Rajasthan Police force. At the start of 2018 alone, the state police have earmarked 34 posts for sports quota. This is a major reason; other states players are joining the Rajasthan Police.
One such player who benefitted from the sports policy is Meenu. She is a promising athlete and a definite medal hope. One needs to remember that all these athletes/police officers come from a modest background. Rajasthan Police due to their sports policies are giving them a very good platform to change their financial condition as well. Just like Meenu, another player is Maduram who belongs to a family of herders.
Overcoming all odds, Maduram joined the Rajasthan police force as constable. The long distance runner through sheer hard work has now become head constable and runs 30km daily in search of more medals. After former Olympian Krishna Punia, who gave new identity to discus throw in India; now a sub-inspector, Vikas Punia has taken over that baton. The discus thrower quit railways to join Rajasthan police and working hard to win medal.
Rajasthan Police – Grand Salute to the senior officers
Even after becoming DGP in Rajasthan, OP Galhotra regularly takes feedback about players. He expressed hope that Rajasthan Police will bring laurels in different sports in future and players would get any kind of assistance they need.
All the officers who are instrumental in this positive change are, former DGPs Omendra Bhardwaj and Manoj Bhatt, who paid attention to facilities. ADG (RAC) Rajiv Dasot and DGP OP Galhotra have taken keen interest in training and motivating the players.
As a sports promoter, and voice of Indian Sports we would like to give these officers a Grand Salute.
