This picture, particularly this gold medal, could be very particular to me. This is the 1998 Asian Games Bangkok, Thailand during which Ding’ko Singh stunned everybody by defeating world class boxers one after the opposite on his method to win the gold medal.
In the opening spherical, he defeated the world quantity three participant who was additionally very well-known in Asia. Thereafter, he defeated World No 7 within the semi-final and ultimately gained the gold medal for India.
So his progress in the direction of the gold medal throughout the Asian Championship was unparalleled and crammed with nice enthusiasm which actually uplifted Indian boxing.
Dingko Singh is the story of that profitable spirit!
The grassroots degree boxing that began in India as sub-junior boxing is the foundation explanation for the success of Indian boxing at the moment!
Dingko Singh, Asian Games gold-winning boxer (Source: Twitter/Kiren Rijiju))
And Ding’ko was the primary occasion, the Sub-Junior National Champion, being the Junior National Champion, chosen by the Indian Navy staff to pursue. The Navy coach then introduced him to Mumbai, which is the bottom of the Navy’s boxing staff at INS Hamla, Malad.
I’ve recognized Dingko Singh since then. He was additionally chosen to signify Maharashtra on the nationwide degree as he was a part of the Mumbai and Maharashtra boxing exercise, which was primarily based at INS Hamla.
According to me, this Manipuri fighter had the warmest blood ever.
By nature, the very hot-headed Ding’ko was very fast and on the identical time possessed distinctive scientific boxing abilities. So proud, who all the time saved his nostril excessive even when he wasn’t boxing!
But within the ring I’ve all the time seen his nostril down and all the time guarded. A really scientific manner of boxing, he was very fast, very fast and really correct. His left hook – proper cross mixture will take top-of-the-line boxers to the ground and I’ve seen lots of them go down like a fallen handkerchief, the place the boxers had been swiftly hit on their chin and the following second His knees had been bent and he fell the place he had stood a second earlier.
very particular
Dingko’s rise, his rise to prominence and his look – I used to be fortunate sufficient to see all of that up shut. not simply because he was a boxer from mumbai however i’ve been a referee choose i particularly bear in mind in 1997 nationwide video games in bangalore the place i labored as an announcer more often than not and 1998 ambala senior nationwide, Where Ding’ko Singh was simply untouchable, simply invincible and on prime of his kind the place he demolished and destroyed all his opponents with distinctive ability, velocity and accuracy.
Dingko – Was very particular to me. If you discover, I all the time wrote ‘D’ in capital letters, ‘ING’ in lowercase and ‘KO’ in capital letters as a result of he used to ‘KO’ lots of his opponents and I cherished it.
When he got here again from Bangkok I used to be there to welcome him like a hero to Mumbai together with your entire Navy staff and Kishan Narsee, the worldwide referee.
His rise as a boxer gave India the boldness he wanted: Yes, we are able to. In reality, the success of Dingko Singh in 1998 was step one in India’s rise to the worldwide stage.
We had some nice boxers earlier than Dingko. Our boxing has all the time been good and India’s efficiency within the 1986 Asian Games was top-of-the-line ever. However, Ding’KO’s efficiency, development and success on the 1998 Games led us to imagine that “Yes, we can do it. We have class…”
And that Dingko spirit was carried ahead by all of the hardworking coaches and boxers of India and what we’re at the moment as profitable I might say was step one in the direction of the success journey of Indian boxing.
Dingko was actually near my coronary heart and he had numerous love and respect for me as properly. Today I bear in mind his accidents, his robust instances when he fought like a real champion. I bear in mind younger Dingko after we took him to Dr Anant Joshi for a wrist harm and his current battle final yr when he was airlifted in an emergency. I additionally bear in mind many different events when he hung up his gloves the place he referred to as me and spoke very respectfully, however in that regard, I might really feel that love for myself and that is why my coronary heart is so heavy at the moment as a result of I’ve misplaced one. One of the best boxers India has ever seen, whose whole journey I’ve watched intently.
Dingko, you gave us that a lot wanted confidence and for positive Dingko you’ll all the time reside in our hearts and your combating spirit will assist us take Indian boxing ahead.
Rest in peace, Ding’ko. we pray to god almighty ‘Peace’ For your soul and I’m positive that from above in heaven, you’ll be watching the following era of younger and budding boxers and I’m positive, you’ll bless them with success identical to you.
*Adios Dingko. You are with us, eternally. . .*
Written by Jai Kovali, former Secretary General of Boxing Federation of India
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
