Rajni Shrestha: Becoming an Athlete Is Not Enough, One Must Serve the Nation Through Politics

March 16, Kathmandu — Until September 7-8 of last year, bodybuilder Rajni Shrestha had little interest in politics. She was primarily focused on how to bring international medals to Nepal. However, after the Janajati-Guthi (JNG) movement in September, she developed a desire to engage in politics and contribute to the country.

She says, “Many children were injured and several lost their lives during the movement. Witnessing that, I realized I cannot simply remain an athlete; now I must do something for the country.”

Subsequently, Rajni got involved in politics. She entered through the proportional representation list of the National Independent Party (Rastriya Swatantra Party – RSWP). “Athletes, artists, and businesspeople must also join politics. I joined RSWP with the purpose of fighting corruption and fulfilling the demands of the JNG movement,” she explains.

Following the JNG movement, Rajni became a member of parliament after the election held on February 21. She secured her seat via RSWP’s proportional representation category.

Having won medals for Nepal in international competitions, Rajni now aims to create an environment where athletes can compete at home. Her long-term activity in the sports sector has also given her insight into the challenges faced by athletes who move abroad.

Prioritizing all sports, not just football or cricket, Rajni visited various villages in her home district Morang to engage with voters. This local interaction deepened her understanding of community issues and made her more sensitive to them.

“Even in municipal areas, many places lack proper roads and phone networks, and I personally saw the squatter (Sukumbasi) problems,” she states.

“Witnessing these issues at the grassroots has given me extra energy to bring about change through politics,” Rajni adds.

She wants to address social issues alongside sports development. “Issues like squatters’ rights need voices as much as the sports sector. There are also problems with gender-based violence. Many athletes and youths have gone abroad,” she notes.

Rajni plans to provide exercise and specialized training for self-defense starting at the primary school level, which she believes will help protect women from violence and contribute to building a healthier society.

Rajni: From Overcoming Illness to Becoming a Bodybuilder

Before achieving success in sports, Rajni faced serious health problems. After detecting a lump in her throat, she repeatedly visited hospitals but the issue persisted. After battling depression for two years, her husband Sameer Shrestha encouraged her to join a gym.

Beginning gym workouts significantly improved her health. “I started going to the gym at Mitrapark with my husband and focused on weight training. Within a couple of months, the lump began to disappear,” Rajni recalls.

After that, the gym became an important part of her life. Gym owner Anjan Shahi encouraged her to participate in Kathmandu-level competitions. With her husband’s support, her bodybuilding career began from there. After overcoming illness, she started competing at national and international levels.

Rajni first competed in the women’s physique category. In 2017, she won first place in the Miss Kathmandu women’s physique competition. Later, in 2019, she participated in the 53rd Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship held in Batam, Indonesia, securing two medals.

In 2023, at the 55th Asian Bodybuilding Championship held in Nepal, she won the gold medal. Starting in women’s physique, Rajni has built a successful streak competing in bodybuilding categories.

She has earned medals for Nepal at national, South Asian, Asian, and world-level competitions. After becoming a parliamentarian, she stated, “Just as exercise gave me a new life, I want to contribute to the nation through politics.” She also expressed confidence in continuing her commitment to the sports sector alongside her political career.