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It’s no hidden fact that sports and politics go hand in hand, from cricket to canoeing, politics has been an essential part of how a sport is governed in the country. In fact, India’s 2004 Olympic hero, Rajvyardhan Singh Rathore was recently inducted into the Cabinet as Minister of State (MoS) for the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.Despite having to deal with several political situations within sport, not a lot of Indian athletes have taken a jump into National or state level governance. That being said, it seems politics is slowly becoming to go to profession, post retirement for athletesFrom Cricket to Athletics, here are five Indian sportspersons, who took the Politics plunge.
#1 Mohammad Azharuddin (Cricket)
The former India Captain is still considered one of the best batsmen India has ever produced. In 2009, Azharuddin joined the Indian National Congress to change the fortunes of the city of Moradabad. However, his success was short-lived as he would go on to lose the elections that year.
Despite having plans of constructing a sports university and cricket stadium in the town, he went onto lose the elections. The 2014 elections proved to be even worse for the Hyderabad born cricketer.
He lost by a landslide margin to BJP candidate Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh.
#2 Nafisa Ali (Swimming)
The two-time national swimming champion has changed her career several times. From a sportsperson to an actor to politician, the 57-year old has had an eventful life so far.
From 1972-1974, she dominated Indian swimming, winning back to back national championships. She was also a jockey at the Calcutta Gymkhana club.
Nafisa took her first few steps into politics in 2004, she joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and contested for the South Kolkata seat in West Bengal. However, after losing out in her consitutency, she had to wait five more years for her next chance.
In 2009, she contested the elections for the Samajwadi Party from Lucknow. This time her electoral candidacy resulted in victory. However, after a brief stint with SP, she rejoined the Congress the same year.
#3 Aslam Sher Khan (Hockey)
Khan was a part of the 1975 Indian hockey team, which won the country’s last ever major International tournament in the sport. He also represented India at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
In 1984, Khan joined politics with the Indian National Congress and contested from the Betul constituency. He contested again in 1989, but lost out. However, like the national hockey team, Khan was not going to give up.
In 1991, he was re-elected into the 10th Lok Sabha from the same constituency. In 1997, Khan joined the BJP, but resigned in 1999.
He also headed an ad-hoc committee setup to re-legitimise the Indian hockey Federation in 1998.
#4 Jyotirmoyee Sikdar (Athletics)
Sikdar represented India as a middle distance runner in several track and field events. With two Asian Championships and one Asian Games representation under her belt, she was sparkling light at a time when India was not doing so well in Athletics.
Sikdar won two gold medals in the 800m and 1500m events at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. Her transition into politics came in 2004, when she was elected as a Member of Parliament from the Krishnanagar constituency in West Bengal for the CPM.
However, she wasn’t re-elected in 2009, failing to continue her political winning streak.
#5 Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (Shooting)
The most successful from the lot of Indian athletes, who made the transition from sport to politics is Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. The double-trap shooter, won India’s only medal at the 2004 Olympics by securing the silver medal.
Colonel Rathore has secured seven international gold medals in his shooting career. However, he has been no slouch in the political realm as well. After taking voluntary retirement from the army, Rathore joined the BJP.
He went onto win the seat from Jaipur rural. However, his peak came this season, when he was inducted into Narendra Modi’s Cabinet as the Minister of State (MoS) for Information and Broadcasting.
