Vijender Singh, 33, was the toast of India at the 2008 Olympic Games, winning the first boxing medal for the country. In an out-of-the-ring bout as a Congress candidate, he is taking on the BJP’s sitting MP Ramesh Bidhuri for the South Delhi seat. Excerpts from an interview with Qaiser Mohammad Ali

On contesting elections

I’ve never fought any election. I come from a very poor family in a village. At one point I didn’t have shoes and clothes to wear, nor did we have a cycle at home, leave alone a TV. I worked hard and reached here, gradually…. When people love you and Almighty is with you, it’s a very big thing.

On Congress ticket

I decided to contest saying, ‘why not’. If I am getting an opportunity to work and get the love of the people, let’s do that, because the standard of politics is falling rapidly…. My thinking is quite similar to that of the Congress and so are the issues. The simplicity of Rahulji and Priyankaji impresses me a lot, and that is a reason why I’m with them.

On survival in politics

If you are good and honest, no one can stop you. When I was coming out of the village, some people would taunt me: ‘He thinks he’ll win an Olympic medal.’ But I did win an Olympic medal, didn’t I? So, if your resolve is tough, nothing is impossible, I feel. Sometimes I think why politics is called ‘rajniti’; why can’t it be called ‘lokseva’ or something like that?

On contesting against a sitting MP

If I start counting his shortcomings, there are many. People, too, are fed up with him. Even his party men are ann­oyed with him. Someone told me that he has said people from north UP and Bihar should leave Delhi. How long will you do divisive politics? Unless the youth of the country comes forward, I don’t think India would benefit.