Match this

Making the force and her city proud is Smita Pawar, a constable with the Wanowrie Police Station, who has just bagged the Shiv Chhatrapati Award for the game of handball.

Constable Smita Pawar on being the first woman in the city to win the highest-grade sports award in handball

Making the force and her city proud is Smita Pawar, a constable with the Wanowrie Police Station, who has just bagged the Shiv Chhatrapati Award for the game of handball. In real life, the otherwise tough looking constable, is traditional and a soft-natured person.

8220;I have been playing this game since my school days. Our coach always encouraged the girls to participate in such sports. At that time I played handball with my batchmates, later, I was selected to represent our school at the state level,8221; says Pawar, an alumni of Bhekrai Mata Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Phursungi.

Smita has graduated with Bsc. Honours in chemistry after which she joined the police force three years back. 8220;My aim is to become the deputy superintendent of police for which I am pursuing my education now. My parents advised that if I want to be in this department then I must know it from the core, so I started off as a constable after passing the police exams,8221; says 25-year-old Pawar, who loves to read literary books in her leisure time.

Striking a balance between her duty and the game, Pawar says, 8220;Although, these days I do not get much time to read, I make sure not to miss on my early morning sessions of handball, after which I start off for my duty.8221; So how does she cope up with the tiring work hours and her sports, 8220;Well, it8217;s not really tough. Infact my game is like a workout for me, these daily sessions not only help me be fit but also build my stamina and endurance,8221; says Pawar who is currently studying to attain a higher position in the police department and also preparing for admission to an MBA in human resources. 8220;Being a cop is my first choice. Besides, one must have good management skills and they are also very important to be in the police force,8221; says Pawar who looks up to Meeran Borwankar as her role model.

Talking of the increasing number of women in the police department these days Pawar says, 8220;It is good to see the increasing strength of women. I hope some day women will equal men in the police force in terms of numbers.8221; And while speaking on the role and responsibility of a cop she adds, 8220;This is an honourable job. I am proud to be a part of a department that serves for the people and the nation. I would just like to say that whatever may come your way, you must fulfill your duties with complete loyalty and keep up the trust that people have imposed on you,8221; she concludes.