Asian Games gold medalist boxer Dingko Singh has tested positive for Covid-19 in Manipur. Dingko is the first high-profie name from the Indian sporting fraternity who has tested positive for Covid-19 which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

Dingko Singh was recently in Delhi for cancer treatment but undertook a 2,400-km journey to return home to Manipur by road. He had earlier been airlifted to the national capital thanks to the efforts made by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).

Dingko was scheduled for a radiotherapy much earlier in Delhi but the process was delayed due to the lockdown in India announced on March 25.

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju had requested the Manipur government to take stock of the boxer’s condition and extend all possible help for his treatment at the nearest available medical facility. Dingko, an Arjuna and Padma Shri awardee, is battling a relapse of liver cancer. The Manipuri was a swashbuckling bantamweight boxer and won the Asian Games gold in the 1998 edition in Bangkok.

With Manipur lacking facilities for radiation therapy, the other option for Dingko’s treatment was in Guwahati.

On Saturday, May 30, the Indian government announced Lockdown 5 with a fresh set of guidelines.

(With inputs from Manogya Loiwal)