Imphal: Ngangom Dingko Singh, Asian Games gold medalist boxer passed away on Thursday morning after battling prolonged illness. He was 47.
He has been battling liver cancer since 2017. Dingko had undergone radiation therapy at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), Delhi in January 2020.
Dingko won the gold medal at the 13th Asian Games, Bangkok in 1998 . He was also Manipur’s first Asian Games gold medalist.
Dingko started his boxing career in 1990. In 1995, he joined the Indian Navy.
He received the Arjuna award in 1998. He was awarded the nation’s fourth-highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri in 2013.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mourned the demise of the boxer. He tweeted, “Shri Dingko Singh was a sporting superstar, an outstanding boxer who earned several laurels and also contributed to furthering the popularity of boxing. Saddened by his passing away. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti”.
Boxer Vijender Singh also paid tribute to Dingko Singh. In his tweet Vijender said, “My sincerest condolences on this loss May his life’s journey & struggle forever remain a source of inspiration for the upcoming generations. I pray that the bereaved family finds the strength to overcome this period of grief & mourning #dinkosingh.”