Kaur Singh, an Asian Games gold medallist boxer and the one Indian to have fought towards the legendary Muhammad Ali, died Thursday at a personal hospital in Haryana’s Kurukshetra. He was 74 and had been affected by a number of well being points.
Coming from a farming household from the Khanal Khurd village of Sangrur, Kaur Singh joined the Army in 1971. He was on the entrance, in Barmer sector of Rajasthan, within the 1972 battle towards Pakistan and was later awarded the Sena Medal. It was throughout his stint within the Army that, Kaur Singh’s boxing journey started. He made his debut on the senior nationwide boxing championship in 1979 and received gold. He repeated the feat for 4 consecutive years, until 1983. In between, he received the gold on the Asian boxing championships held in Mumbai in 1980.
He emerged as a nationwide hero in 1982, when he received the gold medal on the Asian Games in New Delhi. Following his achievements. His Asian Games gold earned him India’s second-highest sporting honour, the Arjuna Award in 1982. A yr later, in recognition of his contribution to boxing, he was awarded the Padma Shri, the nation’s fourth-highest civilian honour.
He additionally represented India within the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles.
Interestingly, Kaur Singh had confronted off with Muhammad Ali in a four-round exhibition match held in New Delhi in 1980. He took retirement from boxing in 1984. Kaur Singh, who retired from the Army in 1994, was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 1988 in recognition of his excellent service.
After retirement, Kaub Singh took to farming at his village. Locals recall how his intervention helped canal water attain their village and the way he helped the hamlet get many different amenities.
In December 2020, Kaur Singh joined a number of others from Punjab in returning his Padma Shri and Arjuna Award to the Centre in solidarity with the farmers who have been protesting towards now repealed agri legal guidelines.
A biopic on Kaur Singh was slated to be launched in 2020 however was postponed to July 2022 for a restricted launch as a result of pandemic. Actor Karam Bathh performed the legendary boxer and the movie depicted how the veteran boxer struggled to just accept prize cash from governments.
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI), the nation’s governing physique of the game, paid tribute to Kaur Singh. “Boxing Federation of India deeply mourns the demise of Boxing Legend & Padma Shri, Kaur Singh Ji . Our heartfelt condolences and prayers to his family & friends,” tweeted BFI.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed sorrow over the veteran boxer’s demise. Punjab sports activities minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer additionally condoled Kaur Singh’s loss of life.
Mann mentioned Kaur Singh had made India proud by incomes fame within the nationwide and worldwide area of boxing. “From Khanal Khurd village in Sangrur, Kaur Singh shined like a star in the world of boxing and won a gold medal in Asian Games,” Mann mentioned. The life and contribution of Kaur Singh will encourage budding gamers to work arduous and excel in sports activities, Mann added.
A biopic on Kaur Singh was slated to be launched in 2020 however was postponed to July 2022 for a restricted launch as a result of pandemic. Actor Karam Bathh performed the legendary boxer and the movie depicted how the veteran boxer struggled to just accept prize cash from governments.
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI), the nation’s governing physique of the game, paid tribute to Kaur Singh. “Boxing Federation of India deeply mourns the demise of Boxing Legend & Padma Shri, Kaur Singh Ji . Our heartfelt condolences and prayers to his family & friends,” tweeted BFI.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed sorrow over the veteran boxer’s demise. Punjab sports activities minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer additionally condoled Kaur Singh’s loss of life.
Mann mentioned Kaur Singh had made India proud by incomes fame within the nationwide and worldwide area of boxing. “From Khanal Khurd village in Sangrur, Kaur Singh shined like a star in the world of boxing and won a gold medal in Asian Games,” Mann mentioned. The life and contribution of Kaur Singh will encourage budding gamers to work arduous and excel in sports activities, Mann added.
Source: The Indian Express