“Sports Has Been Politicized..”: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore On Vinesh Phogat And Bajrang Punia Joining Congress

Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia’s entry into politics, particularly as Congress members ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, has generated significant attention.

Both are highly accomplished athletes, with Bajrang Punia serving as the working president of the Kisan Congress and Phogat contesting the Julana seat. Their move marks a shift from sports to politics, with Phogat expressing confidence in her campaign for the upcoming elections.

“Sports has been politicised, it is a sad thing. This is democracy, so everybody has the right to join politics but another field shouldn’t get sullied. I feel that in Olympics, wrestling is such a sport, in which so many athletes take part and we get so many medals. This time more medals could have come if such an atmosphere had not been created earlier,” Rathore Said.

However, their decision has sparked reactions, including concerns from Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, a fellow Olympian and BJP leader. Rathore voiced his apprehensions about the politicization of sports, stating that such developments could affect the focus and performance of athletes, particularly in wrestling, a field where India has historically performed well.

Phogat’s political debut comes after a challenging period in her wrestling career, including her disqualification from the Paris Olympics and her subsequent retirement. Despite this, she is optimistic about her new journey in politics and the support she is receiving from her constituents.

The involvement of these sports icons in politics highlights the broader trend of athletes entering public life, often carrying the same competitive spirit and public appeal into the political arena.