Jaipur: Marking a significant milestone in the administrative history of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), president of the Dausa District Cricket Association (DCA) Shobhana Gurjar filed her nomination for the post of executive member. Her candidate submission marks the very first time a female administrator has entered the contest for a position in the elections of the state cricket governing body.Speaking on her motivation to contest the polls, Gurjar highlighted her deep personal drive to advance women’s sports. “Personally, I have a deep drive and passion to work specifically for women. I feel strongly that we need to promote and advance women in cricket. As for my background, I am a sportsperson myself. I am a state-level shooter, have competed at the national level, and have won three gold medals for Rajasthan,” Gurjar told TOI.She emphasised that female participation should not remain confined to playing roles. “Cricket extends beyond what happens on the pitch,” she added. “Women ought to have a decisive voice in organising tournaments, managing sports infrastructure and steering the overall development of the game. My focus will be on creating robust pathways for emerging female athletes and youth players,” the 61-year-old said.Outlining her broader vision for regional talent, Gurjar expressed a determination to see homegrown players achieve global recognition. “My goal is to see our girls from Rajasthan represent the country at the national and international levels, and we are actively working toward this,” she stated. “Going forward, if given the opportunity by our chief minister, prime minister or leadership, I will dedicate myself to working earnestly and passionately for women and young female cricketers.”Her nomination is being viewed as a major breakthrough in an administration historically dominated by male officials, setting a precedent for female leadership in state sports bodies.Gurjar brings substantial political and administrative experience to her candidacy, having previously served as the panchayat samiti pradhan in Dausa. Reflecting on how that executive role prepared her for sports administration, she explained, “I previously served as the pradhan, which was a key executive position where I worked extensively across social and political spheres. That background gave me the administrative experience to work directly for the people and connected me with grassroots issues. During that tenure, I mentored many young individuals, established initiatives to encourage them and organised annual awards to recognise their talents. I have always had a strong drive to work for the community, especially for women and young girls. I have worked in consumer court for five years and have also served as director at Krishi Upaj Mandi Samiti,” she said.Drawing parallels between public administration and her current sports role, Gurjar outlined her core governing philosophy. “I have been serving as the president of the Dausa DCA since 2019,” she stated.“Whether leading at the district level in sports or running a panchayat samiti, the core role is leadership, selecting the right candidates, encouraging genuine talent, and driving them forward. My principle has always been to support authentic, hard-working players, regardless of their financial background, and give them a platform to grow. That will remain my primary objective moving forward,” she added.
