Ex-Hockey captain Sandeep Singh, Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt join BJP

New Delhi: Giving a boost to BJP in the run up to the elections to the Haryana Assembly, two prominent sports personalities -- former Indian Hockey captain Sandeep Singh and Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt, joined the saffron party on Thursday here.

Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Balkaur Singh from Kalanwali (Reserved) seat also joined the BJP along with the two sports personalities in the presence of party Media in charge and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni and Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala.

Former Hockey captain Singh hails from Shahabad town in Kurukshetra, Haryana. 

Under his captaincy, the Indian team managed to clinch the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2009 after defeating Malaysia in the finals at Ipoh. 

Singh was also the top goal scorer of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament.At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Yogeshwar Dutt won the bronze medal in the 60 kg category. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government in 2013.  Dutt also won a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. 

The BJP is in power in Haryana since the last five years.The Haryana state Assembly elections are slated for October 21 and the counting of votes will take place on October 24.(UNI)