New Delhi:

Boxer-politician Vijender Singh says he has no hesitation in acknowledging the emotional cost of his decision to switch from the Congress to the BJP but insists he had his reasons for doing so.

“I just changed the platform, I didn’t change myself. I’m still the same person,” he said.

“Of course, there is an emotional toll,” Singh told PTI in an interview at his residence.

When he opened up about his shocking political switch from the BJP, he admitted that the move cost him some close friendships. But he hopes to regain that by staying true to his “core character.”

The 38-year-old boxer, India’s first and only male boxer to win an Olympic medal (bronze in 2008), shocked many by explaining his decision using boxing metaphors. But he’s confident that those who are offended now will eventually come around when they see he’s “still the same guy.”

“It’s like when you move up a weight class in boxing. You do that when your body finds it difficult to adjust in the weight class it’s in. So, politically, when I find it difficult to adjust Then I moved on to another platform,” he said.

Singh said he joined the BJP to better the youth and the country. He said his decision hurt some of his friends, but that he would be there for them whenever they needed him and they would see through his actions.

“I have to prove myself to them and I believe that those who are your own will never leave you. Some people close to me in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (are frustrated). But there are a lot of questions,” he added, refusing to ascertain the specific reasons for his dissatisfaction with the Congress party.

When asked further about the reasons for his exit and whether the Congress tried to reason with him, he replied: “Yes, of course Congress people reached out, but I will come to that later.”

He said when a person gets a good platform to express his views, he should move on.

Mr Singer said his core character and sense of right and wrong remained unchanged. He said he will not stop speaking out against injustice.

He said he was attracted to the BJP because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.

“The vision of our Prime Minister has been very good for India. He is the first to apologize when he feels he has done wrong. He is not someone who believes in just one thing,” Arjuna Award and Kyle Ratner Award said laureate Singh. India’s first male boxer to win a World Championship medal (bronze in 2009).

Prime Minister Modi said that it is a great thing that India will become a developed country by 2047, adding that it is a great thing to provide such a vision to the youth of India.

“I hope it all comes to fruition and especially young people benefit from his plans,” he added.

On whether the BJP has given him any concrete role in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, Singh said: “Not yet.” “(But) I will contest in Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Delhi,” he said It is hoped that his presence will help the party strengthen its Jat base in these states, it added.

Asked if he had seen any noticeable changes in Indian sports since the BJP came to power, Singh said the most impressive was the positive response to athletes’ grievances.

“The sports budget has been increased. Your voice (as a sportsperson) is being heard. Just post your issue on social media and you will get results. Be it the Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India or Minister Anurag Tha Mr. Kuhl himself, they all responded.

“All the demands of athletes will be heard, which was not the case before. Athletes have a greater say in this government,” he stressed.

He may have changed parties, but Mr Singh said he would never stop speaking out for issues he believed in.

“I have declared that when I feel something is wrong, I will speak to the party and raise my voice,” he said.

When asked that is why he recently chose to congratulate wrestler Vinesh Phogat for qualifying for the Olympics even though she has been openly critical of the government’s handling of sexual harassment allegations against former national federation president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, he said, “I congratulate Vinesh Phogat because She is my sister (Aage bhi karunga) (and I will continue to do so), I am an athlete first and this kinship will always be there,” he asserted.

Talking about his sports career, Mr. Singh said he trained almost every day. Boxing is his first love and always will be.

“If I get a chance to represent India, I will do it,” the boxer said. He plays on the professional tour but has not appeared in action since 2022.

Mr Singh retired from amateur boxing in 2015 but likes to follow the Indian’s performances closely. He is concerned about the current situation, with no male boxer yet making it to the Olympics with just one qualifying event left on the calendar.

“No one will qualify for the Olympics and hopefully this will change soon. I want to take boxing to new heights. I hope the top leadership of the BJP will be involved,” he said.

Talking about his relationship with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, Singh said: “Our friendship is more than a decade old. We have been through a lot of ups and downs together.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)