Vijender Singh: From Boxing Ring to the Political Arena

Vijender Singh is a former Indian boxer who became the first Indian to win a boxing medal at the Olympics. He has also worked in multiple films and contested elections as a candidate for the Indian National Congress. His story of working his way up through various arenas and never caging himself to just one field tells his story of versatility and adaptability.

Let’s dive into the story of Vijender Singh, a man of many talents.

Humble Beginnings and Love for the Sport

Vijender Singh’s full name is Vijender Singh Beniwal. He was born on October 29, 1985, in a humble Haryanvi Jaat family in the town of Bhiwani. His mother is a housewife, while his father is a retired bus driver from Haryana Roadways.

Singh’s elder brother, Manoj, who used to box during his childhood, also inspired him to become a boxer. Vijender grew up seeing Manoj, who later joined the Indian Army to support his family financially.

After completing his education, Vijender joined Bhiwani Boxing Club and started amateur Boxing. Jagdish Singh, a national-level boxing coach, recognised Vijender’s talent and trained him personally. 

Vijender Singh went on to win at the subnational and national level domestically, as well as at the Asian and Afro-Asian games and the Commonwealth Games. He participated in the Athens Olympics but had to face defeat; however, this did not deter him from continuing Boxing.

He tasted victory in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won a bronze medal, becoming the first Indian to win a medal for Boxing at the Olympics. He was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2009 for the same. Subsequently, he was awarded Padma Shri in 2010 for his invaluable contribution to Indian sports.

Recognising his win, the Haryana government honoured him with the rank of DSP-Deputy Superintendent of Police in Haryana Police. 

The Undefeated Run in Pro Boxing 

He decided to turn to professional Boxing and moved to the UK for training. He went on to win all his bouts professionally, with a 9-0 record, seven of which were knockouts.

Forays into Cinema & Reality Shows

After becoming famous, he received many offers from Bollywood, given his charm and good looks. Vijender Singh acted in movies like ‘Fugly’, ‘Kisi ka Bhai kisi ki Jaan’ and was on the judges panel of MTV Roadies.

The Political Bout

Vijender Singh joined the Indian National Congress before the 2019 General Elections, contesting from the South Delhi constituency unsuccessfully.

Amid rumours of his second political bout, Vijender Singh has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP). This time, he intends to contest the General Elections from Haryana on a BJP ticket. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to secure a win this time, but given Singh’s resilience, he has miles to go.

Coming from a humble beginning, Vijender Singh made Boxing a popular sport in India, especially among the youth. His love for the sport took him places and led him into the world of pro boxing, Bollywood and finally into politics. Indeed, Vijender Singh has shattered all the impediments in his path and built a name for himself among the Indian populace.

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