N Dingko Singh, an Asian Games gold-medallist in boxing, passed away on Thursday in Imphal after losing his battle with liver cancer. He was 42.
The Manipur boxer had won gold in bantamweight at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.
Last year, he had tested positive for coronavirus.
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Though he recovered from Covid-19, he had to undergo radiation therapy for liver treatment in January 2020. He even had to sell his house for his treatment.
An Arjuna awardee in 1998, he had been fighting liver cancer since 2018. He was also honoured with Padma Shri in 2013.
Boxer Vijender Singh, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games bronze-medallist, tweeted, "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 [emoticon: folded hands] #dinkosingh."
"I’m deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Dingko Singh. One of the finest boxers India has ever produced, Dinko's gold medal at 1998 Bangkok Asian Games sparked the Boxing chain reaction in India. I extend my sincere condolences to the bereaved family. RIP Dinko," tweeted the Union sports minister Kiran Rijiju.
Manipur Chief Minister N.Biren Singh also condoled the demise of the veteran boxer.