This photo, especially this gold medal, is very special to me.
And Ding’KO was the first example, being the sub-junior national champion, junior national champion that was picked up by the Indian Navy team to nurture him further.
His left hook – right cross combination, would floor one of the best boxers chins and I have seen many of them going down like fallen handkerchiefs, where the boxers were hit swiftly on their chins and without realising, the next moment their knees buckled and they fell there itself where they were standing a moment ago.
Ding’KO’s rise, coming into prominence and his form – I was very lucky to have seen all that from close proximity.
Dingko – was very special to me.
Our boxing was always good and India’s performance in the 1986 Asian Games was one of the best performances ever.
I remember many other occasions after he hung up his gloves as well, where he would call and speak very respectfully to me but in that respect, I could feel that love for me and that’s why my heart is very very heavy today as I lost one of the greatest boxers India has ever produced whose entire journey I had seen from a close quarter.
Rest in peace, Ding’KO.