Winning more than 85 championships, from the district level to national and international levels, is no a piece of cake. Also, managing a tough job in police and simultaneously being a loving mother, is something not everyone can juggle together. But Kalyan Police Naik Shobha Desai does all this with a smile and what’s more, she excels in every part she plays!

Desai,  introduced to sports at a young age, was born into a farmer’s family in a small village, Oglewadi in Karad. She had a father, Shamrao Shivram Mane, who loved sports like nothing else. “I became an athlete because of my father,” said Desai. Though her village lacked proper sports facilities, it didn’t deter her in the least. She would practice by running on the hills and roads.

Till date, she has won over 85 championships and has set several records in 21 km and 42 km marathons. On 15th January 2017, she won the Standard Chartered Half Marathon (21.09 km) and do you know what’s the next goal of this superwoman? Breaking her own record! 

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Encouraged by the late ACP Ashok Kamte, she joined the police force in 1995 and continued to take part in sports competitions but all that came to a standstill with the news of her pregnancy in 2003. She had to discontinue athletics on the advice of her doctors and in the years to come she felt herself becoming lazy, gaining weight, though she wanted to run again.

After five long years, this fiery police officer had enough of lazing around and picked up her sports practice again. She found extended support from seniors officials in the department in pursuing her passion, once she resumed her duties.

“The department adjusted job timings so that I had enough time to practice. My seniors let me practice first and then go for duty,” she added.

Facing financial hurdles after getting selected for the Masters Athletics Championship in Singapore last year, she was provided financial aid by Thane C P Param Bir Singh. Also, DCP Dr. Sanjay Shinde and KDMC Mayor Rajendra Deolekar helped her to participate in the Asia Masters Athletic Championship in China.

Mother to a 12-year-old daughter Sanskriti, Shobha often finds it hard to take time out of her busy schedule. But she is blessed with a wonderful mother and siblings who take care of her daughter when is on duty, being the super cop that she is!