While the coronavirus pandemic deeply scarred people emotionally and physically, it also sparked a positive collective effort to fight the virus. This period saw an influx of volunteers spreading vital health information, while organizations such as the NHS mobilized doctors and nurses for a daily battle against the disease. The sports community was also hit, with various athletes falling ill and subsequently recovering. Beyond the pandemic, hospitals remained under pressure as doctors continued to treat patients with non-COVID related health crises.
While the world was preoccupied with the pandemic, several international boxers rallied to support a fellow professional in need. Dingko Singh, a celebrated Asian Games medalist and Indian Navy boxer from Manipur, had been fighting liver cancer. After a brief period of recovery, he suffered a relapse and now needs specialized radiation treatment. Upon learning that the veteran athlete was unable to secure transport from Imphal, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) coordinated an air ambulance to transport him to New Delhi for his hospital appointment on April 25, 2020.
Many in the boxing community view Dingko Singh as a true icon and hero. To support him during this crisis, Vijender Singh, Manoj Kumar, and several other athletes set up a WhatsApp group specifically to coordinate fundraising efforts for his medical expenses.
Vijender Singh, an Olympic and Commonwealth medalist from Haryana who has since entered politics, and Manoj Kumar, a 2010 Commonwealth Games winner from the same region, led the initiative. In an interview with the Press Trust of India, Vijender explained that as soon as Dingko Singh's bank details were shared, the group began donating whatever they could. Contributions varied from 1,000 to 25,000 rupees, with Vijender himself contributing, eventually pushing the total beyond 1 lakh rupees. Once the funds were transferred to Dingko's account, Vijender noted that it is the responsibility of the boxing community to stand by its members whenever they fall on hard times.