Women cops have a field day

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In just over a month, if the state government survives a political knockout following the by-election, the much-anticipated reconstitution of police women’s volleyball and basketball teams will become a reality.

The police department has begun the selection trials for its first-ever women’s basketball team and a new face volleyball unit, one to be set up after more than two-and-a-half decades.

Once the formalities are over, the director general will go through the report before a high-level committee scrutinises it and gets approval from the state — if things go as planned, this should be over in a month.

The volleyball trials attended by 53 players was held at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, another 44 have been shortlisted for the basketball selection to be held on March 4 and March5.

“We had shortlisted 55, and two less out of it turned up. Three selectors will pick the best and those finalised will join the force as head constables,” said T. V. Sumithrov, coach of police men’s volleyball team.

Since a little after the days of the veteran K. C. Elamma and co., which was in the early eighties, Kerala police hasn’t had a volleyball team and this reconstitution is regarded by many as its attempt to recreate its glorious past.

“When I entered the force, which was in 1986, there wasn’t a women’s volleyball team,” reminisces, Unwin J. Antony, former Kerala police player and captain of national basketball team.

“It will not just give employment to several players, but also increase the strength of the State as the level of competition will go up,” said Unwin.

On the other hand, the cops will be venturing into women’s basketball for the first time. “Most probably 12 players will be selected after the trials and a women’s coach might also be finalised. It will be a new beginning,” said men’s coach A. J. Thomas.

Recently, the force recruited a collective number of 62 persons in sports quota under athletics, football, volleyball and basketball.

Earlier, only athletics had women representation, but with these prospective new recruitment the department is likely to see a rise in women members.