Channelise your energy in the proper manner

Tell us about your childhood and liking for sports at an early age

As far as my early life goes, I come from a remote rural village in Hazaribagh, now part of Ramgarh district, surrounded by rivers and small hillocks. My upbringing up until Standard 2 took place there, after which I moved to Hazaribagh city for further studies. I joined St. Robert's School, a Catholic convent school, where I completed my middle and high school education.

When it came to sports, it wasn't about competition for me.

I simply enjoyed playing. Whether it was football, kabaddi, basketball, volleyball, hockey, or cricket, I played them all.

Our school had two periods dedicated to sports, and they introduced us to various games, including hockey. Once or twice a year, we had cross-country runs around Canary Lake. I often took my friends along to run up and down Canary Hill, something I truly enjoyed. It became a regular routine for me, building my endurance.

Swimming, too, became a part of my life early on. I learned to swim in the rivers and dams around us, embracing open-water swimming right from the start, though I never took any formal swimming lessons.

I never had any formal training in swimming, which is why my techniques are still faulty, but I have no fear of open water. That has always been second nature to me. Cycling was also a big part of our lives growing up. We learned the heavy cycles our elders had, falling many times at first, but eventually getting the hang of it. Later, I used my cycle to commute to school and college, and that's how cycling became a regular part of my routine.

Today, I'm the president of Hockey Maharashtra, and I still enjoy playing the game. Being involved in hockey, both as a player and as someone supporting the sport, continues to be a passion of mine.

What motivated you to join the police force?