"Authorities have done a lot to promote boxing, but they could take better care of their athletes."
Braveheart in the boxing ring, former Asian Games gold medallist boxer Dingko Singh is fighting another battle with the 'emperor of maladies' in his real life. Singh -- who shot to fame after 1998 Bangkok games-- is on the road to recovery after a life saving operation for cancer that removed 70% of his liver, here in Delhi.
Dingko has temporarily been living in his friend's two-bedroom abode in South Delhi's Shahpur Jat after he had to sell his home as the financial assistance provided by sports authorities failed to cover his medical expenses. He got Rs 45,000 from the Boxing Federation of India, while the Sports Authority of India, for which he works, pitched in with Rs 50,000, said a report in Times of India.
"I had to sell my home for Rs 30 lakh. The Manipur government had gifted me this flat after I'd won at Bangkok," Dingko said to the paper.
The 38-year-old--Padma awardee--Manipuri boxer who shot to fame after returning from Bangkok was treated as a national hero then. Now, in a tumultuous moment of adversary he believes that the sports authorities could have taken better take of their athletes. Speaking to TOI he said:"Authorities have done a lot to promote boxing, but they could take better care of their athletes."
The initial signs that all was not well came with a bout of jaundice in August previous year. Further examination concluded that the father of two was suffering from cancer. "Only my brother and me knew. We didn’t want to tell him initially," Dingko’s wife Babai Ngangom said.
Last year when Singh came to Delhi in search of proper treatment, he was denied entry by many hospitals. "I have been suffering from Hepatitis for the past two years, I requested all the top city hospitals here in New Delhi. Other hospitals such as Gangaram as well, but they denied me entry. The Sports Authority of India (SAI), where I currently work, gave me Rs 50,000 for treatment, still they didn’t let me enter," he was quoted saying in a sports website.
There are reports, which the boxer also confirms, on how he went binge-drinking after his name did not initially feature in the squad for the ‘98 Asian Games, according to an Indian Express report.
Dingko’s chemotherapy cycle will begin soon.