Dingko to be back, as coach

Sat, Jul 19 01:20 AM

The Manipuri boxer whose exploits in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games made him the darling of the nation is back in the ring after a break. No, Dingko Singh doesn't throw punches or dance around the floor any more.

He is there to help others become good boxers. The 1998 Asiad 54kg gold medallist has joined a diploma course in coaching at the National Institute of Sports (NIS).

"Boxing has given me everything. Name, fame, comfortable life, national award.

it's my turn now to give something back to the sport. So I found coaching to be the best platform from where I can start contributing to the development of the sport," said Dingko.

"Over the last year or so I have planned to take up coaching as a profession. So I decided to go for a diploma course from this session.

Now I have only one aim, of helping youngsters achieve their dreams," he said. For this, Dingko is planning to open a boxing academy in the future.

"After the diploma, I have to be with Indian Navy at least for the next five years as per the bond I have signed before coming for this course. After that, I am planning to open an academy equipped with the best facilities.

I want the upcoming brigade to achieve what I couldn't," said the Arjuna Award winner. Dingko, one of the best boxers the country has ever produced, had to cut short his career due to injuries and failed to come anywhere near his Bangkok feat.

He represented India for the last time in the 2002 Busan Asian Games where he lost in the second round. In his last national championship appearance, he lost in the quarter-finals.

"Had I got better medical facilities, I could have achieved more, but I am happy with the kind of attention our boxers are getting. Akhil (Kumar) has bounced back from a career-threatening wrist injury and is challenging the world's best due to the support of the federation and Mittal Champions Trust.

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