By M.Devanand Sharma
Imphal(Manipur) ,June 10 : Boxing legend and Asian Games gold medalist N. Dingko Singh died Thursday morning after prolonged illness leaving his family, friends and fans shattered.
He was 42.
Dingko was battling ill-health for a number of years now, starting with liver cancer, for which he was being treated since 2017.
Last year, he had tested positive for COVID-19 but was said to have recovered.
Expressing shock, Chief Minister Biren Singh said he was “shocked and deeply saddened by the demise of N Dingko Singh earlier in the morning today.”
I’m deeply saddened by the demise of Dingko Singh. One of the finest boxers India has ever produced, Dingko’s gold medal at 1998 Bangkok Asian Games sparked the Boxing chain reaction in India. I extend my sincere condolences to the bereaved family, Union Minister Kiran Rijiju said.
Dingko Singh had a very humble beginning . From being born to an economically challenged family that pushed them to put Young Dingko to an Orphanage and had to survive on meagre low protein diet to fighting his poverty with a hope in boxing,
He had given inspiration and hope to many children from the Orphanage and low income families.
He went on to win the first ever gold medal in Asian boxing from India and went on to become an Olympian. He has been fighting fearlessly throughout his life even battling a terminal illness like a true Champion.
In 1998, Dingko ended India’s 16-year wait for an Asian Games boxing victory by winning a gold in the bantam weight category at Bangkok.
He had inspired many World Champion Boxers of today like L.Sarita Devi , Mary Kom ,Sarjubala Shamjetsabam and many more from this small state.
A Padma Shri awardee, Dingko Singh was one of the most outstanding boxers Manipur has ever produced.
