Bhubaneswar, April 30: Rasmita Sahoo, who had bagged a gold medal in the first Women's Kabaddi World Cup three years ago, added another feather in her cap today, as she got appointed as a sub-inspector in state police department.

Like Sahoo, around 30 sportspersons of the state were appointed to various positions of the state police force during a ceremony at the Kalinga Stadium here.

A job for those with outstanding achievement in sports was a long-standing demand of the state's sports fraternity. The sportspersons had earlier been asked to apply for the jobs. "The police department shortlisted 31 candidates in less than a week's time," said a police official. Though the government announced the recruitment of the sportspersons on Tuesday, arrangements to appoint them had already been done by the police personnel.

Five sportspersons - cricketers Roshanara Parwin and Madhuri Mehta, rowers Pratima Puhan and Pramila Minz, and Sahoo - were appointed as sub-inspectors in the city and Cuttack. Others were recruited as constables and civil policemen across the state. Weightlifter Arun Santa was appointed as a sepoy. Of the selected sportspersons, 28 were women.

The new recruits were elated. "They told us that we do not need to join right now since most of us have camps and tournaments to attend. So, we can do the training later. This will help us focus on our game and not worry about our career after sports," said Anupama Swain, a karate champion, who has been appointed as a constable in the city.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who handed over the appointment letters, said swimming pools would be constructed in every district within the next two years. Five districts - Boudh, Sonepur, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj and Jajpur - have been selected to get the pools in the first phase of the project. The Sambalpur Municipality Swimming Pool Complex will also be renovated. "Now, sportspersons do not need to quit their sporting careers midway to take care of their livelihood," Naveen said.

Sports minister Suadam Marandi, director-general of police Sanjeev Marik and sports secretary Saswat Mishra were also present at the event.

The government announced that the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games gold-medal winners would be recruited as deputy superintendents of police. Besides, Rs 20 lakh has been identified to construct a mini-stadium at each block in the rural areas of the state.