The sports ministry is looking at all possible options to facilitate former India boxer Dingko Singh's travel from Manipur to Delhi for cancer treatment, ANI reported.
The 1998 Asian Games gold medallist, who is in Imphal now, had requested the ministry for help after his travel plans were affected by the extension of the COVID-19 lockdown in the country, to May 3.
“The sports ministry has spoken to Dingko Singh and is trying to find out a way to help in practical possible manner,” ANI quoted ministry sources as saying.
Singh, 41, had liver cancer three years ago. He suffered a relapse earlier this year and was to undergo radiation therapy in New Delhi’s Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences. He was supposed to return to the national capital for therapy, and had even booked tickets for mid-April. However, owing to the nationwide lockdown being extended, he is stranded in Imphal now.
“With his condition being critical, it’s very urgent to take him to Delhi, where he was treated before as plenty of checkups and treatment were still pending. We had planned to visit Delhi at least 10-15 days ago, but due to the nationwide lockdown we are unable to travel,” his wife Babai Devi told indianexpress.com.
Singh said he had planned to go to Delhi via road in an ambulance but the doctors advised against it. So, he sought the ministry's help to gtet to the national capital.
Singh won the gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok in the 54-kg bantamweight category. He was conferred with the Arjuna Award the same year and, in 2013, he received the Padma Shri.
