Ace judoka Sahil Pathania now SHO in Gurdaspur
Sahil Pathania, one of India’s most renowned judokas, is now a police officer serving as the SHO of Behrampur in Gurdaspur district.
He has an impressive list of achievements. He has represented India at the World Championship, World Cup, Asian Games, Asian Championships and two editions of the Commonwealth Games. He is also a five-time national champion. To top it all, he is the only Maharaja Ranjit Singh Awardee from the district, which is often known more for drugs and drones than for producing sportspersons of excellence.
Pathania has proved that small towns like Gurdaspur are increasingly becoming hubs for producing international athletes, defying the notion that elite sportspersons can emerge only from large, resource-rich metropolitan cities.
“Small towns are now producing champions by fostering a culture of intense determination, resilience and community support,” says Sahil.
He was recruited into the police department on the basis of his performances in judo. Pathania has enrolled both his sons in the renowned Shaheed Bhagat Singh Judo Training Centre. Having earned fame and distinction as a top-level judoka, he now wants his sons to follow in his footsteps.
He often describes his police profession more as a calling than just a job. Sahil frequently visits the training centre to impart tips to young players.
“Police officers know that each time they put on their uniform, they take on risks to protect others. So do I. I have to protect residents because they look up to me whenever they face a problem,” he says.
Pathania adds, “Policing is about solving problems. We are constantly dealing with street crime, drug offences, gang activity, drunk driving, domestic violence, property crime, drones — the list goes on. Behrampur police station is near the international border, and any laxity on our part means drones can fly in from across the fence. We collaborate with the BSF to ensure the border remains peaceful.”
Being an SHO means he leads the police force at Behrampur. “Anybody can hold the helm when the sea is calm. Your toughest test comes when there is unusual activity near the barbed wire. That is when we have to act,” he says.
“Border policing is not easy. It is a complex, high-stakes endeavour characterised by the need to balance national security with the socio-economic needs of local communities living near the fence,” he adds.
Pathania’s favourite pastime is watching judo matches on television. After all, whatever he has achieved in life is because of this sport.
