CWG gold medalist wrestler Rahul Balasaheb Aware joins Pune rural police as deputy superintendent

PUNE: Rahul Balasaheb Aware, freestyle wrestler and gold medal winner at 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, has joined Pune rural police as deputy superintendent (DySP).
The Maharashtra government selected him for the post to reward him for his success in wrestling. Aware is the fourth wrestler from the state to be appointed DySP from the sports quota.
Earlier, Mumbai’s Narsing Yadav, who won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, was offered the post.In 2015, Sunil Salunkhe, who won Hind Kesari, was appointed DySP, and two -time Maharashtra Kesari Vijay Choudhari of Jalgaon was also appointed to the post. Choudhari completed his one-year mandatory probation period with the Pune rural police.
Aware told TOI on Saturday, “I never dreamt of becoming a police officer in my life. But sports made it possible for me. Whatever I am today is because of wrestling.”
After completing one-year police training at the police training academy, Nashik, Aware joined the Pune rural police as a probationary DySP. He will serve the post at different locations across the jurisdiction.
“The training period was challenging for me as I had to attend classes and study the syllabus. But good marks in mid-term examination boosted my confidence,” he said.
He said wrestling has taught him to improve himself at every stage. Aware also won a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championship in Kazakhstan.
He said, “As per the government resolution, we are allowed to continue practice and attend training camps, including at the national level. So, I will continue to play the sport.”
Aware hails from a small village in Beed district. His father was also a state level wrestler. He started wrestling when he was seven years old. He received wrestling lessons at Gokul Vastad Talim at Bhavani peth under the guidance of ace wrestler Harishchandra Birjadar.