New Delhi, 1 January. Success in sports often brings fame and fortune, but the story is different for many athletes who do not receive adequate government support or achieve major victories. Even those who represent the country on global platforms like the Olympics face hardships. A prominent example is boxer Lakha Singh.
Lakha Singh was born on 2 January 1965 in Halwara, Ludhiana. With a passion for boxing from childhood, he dominated at national and international levels and represented India at the Olympics. A five-time national champion, Lakha Singh won silver medals at the 1994 and 1995 Asian Boxing Championships held in Tehran. He also secured a bronze medal in the 81 kg category at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.
In the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Lakha Singh represented India and was considered a medal contender. Unfortunately, he did not win a medal and finished 17th in the 91 kg category.
Lakha Singh joined the Indian Army in 1984. In 1998, he and fellow boxer Debendra Thapa were to participate in the World Military Boxing Championship. However, the duo left the Texas airport and disappeared. The army declared them absconders, assuming they intended to pursue professional boxing careers in the United States. This incident marked a tragic turning point in Lakha Singh’s life and led to many difficulties.
Recalling the event in an interview, Lakha Singh stated that they did leave the airport and had a drink in a car, but after that, they lost contact. He woke up confined in a locked room, where he was held for about a month before being thrown out of an apartment without money or valid visa. With help from some Asian acquaintances, he reached California and worked at gas stations, restaurants, and construction sites. It took him eight years to gather funds to return to India, during which he had to stay hidden from US authorities. He finally returned to India with assistance from the Indian embassy. In 2006, upon returning to his village, he learned that the army had declared him an absconder.
Reports from 2018 revealed that after returning to India, Lakha Singh’s financial condition was very poor. Despite his explanations, neither the boxing federation nor the Punjab government provided him any support. He was forced to drive a taxi to make ends meet.
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My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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