Mohammed Azaharuddin, Bhaichung Bhutia, Ravindra Jadeja, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (Pic: File Pic)
Indian football great Bhaichung Bhutia joined the All India Trinamool Congress party in 2014 and was named as its candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat. Along with him, Prasun Banerjee and Wangia Pongte are the famous Indian footballers who etched their names in politics after their sporting careers
In the cricket circuit, many former players later chose their path in politics. Big names such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan, Mohammed Azharuddin, Chetan Chauhan, Kirti Azad, Manoharsinhji Pradyumansinhji, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Gautam Gambhir and many other cricketers made their way into politics and later left the field
The country's national sport, hockey also has its players involved in the field of politics. Aslam Sher Khan, Jaipal Singh Munda, Pargat Singh and Dilip Tirkey are famous hockey players who have well-established names in Indian politics
Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Karni Singh are the names of ace Indian shooters who entered politics
Former India's middle distance runner Jyotirmoyee Sikdar was once a Member of Parliament. Apart from her, boxer Mary Kom is another woman sportsperson who entered politics
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