Olympic medallist Yogeshwar Dutt joins BJP ahead of Haryana polls

Olympic medallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and former Indian hockey captain Sandeep Singh joined the BJP on Thursday along with Akali Dal MLA Balkaur Singh.

Dutt won a bronze at the 2012 London Olympics and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2013. He also won a gold medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He had met with BJP Haryana president Subhash Barala, and other senior leaders at the party headquarters, and informed them that he has submitted his resignation from Haryana Police.

“As a youth, I want to work for the nation,” ANI quoted Dutt as saying. “PM Modi abrogated Article 370 from Jammu & Kashmir; he achieved the impossible. I am very impressed with him. The country is happy after abrogation of Article 370,” said the 36-year-old wrestler.

Dutt, who was born in Sonipat, may be fielded from his hometown or Rohtak, according to sources. The state unit had, reportedly, recommended Dutt's name ahead of the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year.

Voting in Maharashtra and Haryana will be held on October 21 and counting of votes on October 24.

Echoing his view, Singh said he will now serve the country in politics after doing so as a sportsperson.

“I have joined politics as I am impressed with PM Modi. His honesty drew me to the party. Both PM and Haryana CM are doing a lot for the youth. If the party considers me capable of contesting elections, then I surely will,” ANI quoted Singh as saying.

The former captain of the Indian national hockey team was seriously injured when he was accidentally shot in 2006 while on his way to join the national team which was due to leave for the World Cup in Africa two days later.

He was on the wheelchair for a year but regained his position in the team and played in the 2010 World Cup for India.

Singh currently holds a DySP rank in the Haryana Police. The Bollywood film Soorma was made on his life.

(With PTI inputs)