I miss running with the tricolour, says Dingko
Chennai: The country has forgotten Dingko Singh, who won India a gold medal in Bangkok Games in 1998. A week after New Year's Day, Dingko will only turned 30 and that probably compounds the romance and the tragedy of the boxer's story - Akhil Kumar, the current braveheart, is 27, and by no means a late bloomer.
A maverick boxer far ahead of his time in terms of technique, it was the Dingko's talent and audacious arrogance in the ring that set him apart from the rest. A technical catalyst, his boxing serves as the reference point for the change in Indian technical approach that was adopted post-Athens 2004, benefits of which are being reaped by the current lot.
"What he did came naturally to him, but all the boxers today are trained to fight like Dingko," said a boxing federation official, adding that there was no better method to adopt to score than Dingko's technique.
"Suddenly, in four years time, we began winning," he adds.
Coaches at SAI centres across the country still turn eloquent over his famed reaction time and speed, but temperamental to the point of disbelief, Dingko probably could not have burned brighter. Injuries began to take a toll and four years ago he made his exit.
As the country prepared for the Athens Olympics, a brief news item said he had lost in the first round of the Hissar Nationals - an event in which he would usually sleepwalk to victory.
Today, a much-mellowed Dingko himself is busy completing a National Institute of Sports (NIS) coach diploma.
"Only he can impart that speed and the locked elbow punch," says a fellow coach, adding, "We can't lose him anymore."
Sent to an orphange in Imphal as a kid since his mother couldn't raise six children, Dingko took to boxing to channelise his anger. Back home in Imphal, he caused scores of girls and boys alike to suddenly throng the Zen-master-like Imbocha Singh's boxing classes at the sprawling Khuman Lampak SAI Centre of Excellence, making it the cradle of the sport before Bhiwani replaced it.
Dingko remains the reason why multi-world champion, Mary Kom still dissolves into giggles at the every mention of her hero's name, like a schoolgirl talking about her favourite movie star. The Manipuri unabashedly admits that it was Dingko's 1998 gold that spurred her to take up boxing.
"I miss running with the tricolour after winning boxing tournaments," says Dingko, adding, "Maybe one day my son Dingson will do it. He's only eight, but seems keen."
There is a pause on the phone line, and then he asks. "Do you know what Dingson means? Son of Dingko," he laughs. Dingko Singh is much-mellowed now but the arrogance remains. Good to know some things don't change.
Source: The Times Of India
A maverick boxer far ahead of his time in terms of technique, it was the Dingko's talent and audacious arrogance in the ring that set him apart from the rest. A technical catalyst, his boxing serves as the reference point for the change in Indian technical approach that was adopted post-Athens 2004, benefits of which are being reaped by the current lot.
"What he did came naturally to him, but all the boxers today are trained to fight like Dingko," said a boxing federation official, adding that there was no better method to adopt to score than Dingko's technique.
"Suddenly, in four years time, we began winning," he adds.
Coaches at SAI centres across the country still turn eloquent over his famed reaction time and speed, but temperamental to the point of disbelief, Dingko probably could not have burned brighter. Injuries began to take a toll and four years ago he made his exit.
As the country prepared for the Athens Olympics, a brief news item said he had lost in the first round of the Hissar Nationals - an event in which he would usually sleepwalk to victory.
Today, a much-mellowed Dingko himself is busy completing a National Institute of Sports (NIS) coach diploma.
"Only he can impart that speed and the locked elbow punch," says a fellow coach, adding, "We can't lose him anymore."
Sent to an orphange in Imphal as a kid since his mother couldn't raise six children, Dingko took to boxing to channelise his anger. Back home in Imphal, he caused scores of girls and boys alike to suddenly throng the Zen-master-like Imbocha Singh's boxing classes at the sprawling Khuman Lampak SAI Centre of Excellence, making it the cradle of the sport before Bhiwani replaced it.
Dingko remains the reason why multi-world champion, Mary Kom still dissolves into giggles at the every mention of her hero's name, like a schoolgirl talking about her favourite movie star. The Manipuri unabashedly admits that it was Dingko's 1998 gold that spurred her to take up boxing.
"I miss running with the tricolour after winning boxing tournaments," says Dingko, adding, "Maybe one day my son Dingson will do it. He's only eight, but seems keen."
There is a pause on the phone line, and then he asks. "Do you know what Dingson means? Son of Dingko," he laughs. Dingko Singh is much-mellowed now but the arrogance remains. Good to know some things don't change.
Source: The Times Of India
