The connection between sports & politics goes a long way, we have seen many athletes opting to enter politics once they are done with their professional careers. Some athletes have found success in Politics while others were left far behind in the race.
Without wasting much time, let's have a look at the athletes who joined politics
Babita Phogat was a gold medalist in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, she made her political debut in 2019 when she contested elections from the Haryana Legislative Assembly as a BJP candidate. Becoming the first Indian Athlete who joined politics
Vinesh Phogat has won the gold medal three times in the Commonwealth Games, recently Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Women's wrestling finals after being found overweight. Phogat has joined the Congress party ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections.
Bajrang Punia is the bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. He has also won medals in the World Wrestling Championships. Punia is a part of the Congress party ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, with this he became one of the top Indian athletes who has joined politics.
Vijender Singh joined the Indian National Congress on the eve of the 2019 Indian general election from the South Delhi Constituency but couldn't secure a win for himself. In April 2024, just before the general elections, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Becoming the fourth Athlete who is now a politician.