Padma Shri awardee and Olympian boxer Kaur Singh, 74, passed away at a private hospital in Kurukshetra on Thursday.
He is survived by two sons and a daughter. His elder son Satgur (42) is a farmer, while his younger son Jasbir Singh (38) is a Havildar in Indian Army. His daughter Rajinder Kaur (33) is a housewife.
Singh’s dead body reached his native Village Khanal Khurd which falls under the Dirba constituency, at around 11.30 am and the last rites were held at 2 pm with full military honours.
Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who is also MLA from Dirba constituency, reached the cremation site and paid the tributes.
Kaur Singh was admitted to a private hospital in Patiala with multiple health problems two days ago before being referred to Kurukshetra, where he died.
Also read: Biographies of 4 sportsmen now in class 9, 10 textbooks
He had won six gold medals in international tournaments, including the Asian Games held in Delhi in 1982. He represented India at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.
He was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1982 and the Padma Shri in 1983.
{{/usCountry}}He was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1982 and the Padma Shri in 1983.
{{/usCountry}}He also fought with boxing legend Muhammad Ali in an exhibition match on January 27, 1980, in Delhi.
He served in the Indian Army and then Punjab Police. He also participated in the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
Dr Balwant Singh, principal of Guru Gobind Khalsa for women at Kamalpur in Ludhiana, who wrote a novel ‘Golden Panch’, on Kaur Singh, said that he joined the army at the age of 23 in 1970 as a Havildar and also participated in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. He retired as Subedar in 1991.
Mod Mahesh, the nephew of the late Kaur Singh, said the Olympian boxer then joined Punjab Police as a constable in 1993 and retired as sub-inspector in 2007. He served there as a coach. After retiring from the Punjab police, he had been living in his native village.
The education department had recently included his biography in the school syllabus. A Punjabi film was also made about his life last year.
Govt to build a memorial
While paying tribute to the boxer, Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced that a memorial will be built in the memory of late Kaur Singh.
In a condolence message, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann said Kaur Singh made India proud by earning a name and fame in the national and international arena of boxing. He said the life and contribution of Kaur Singh will inspire budding players to work hard and excel in sports.
Punjab sports minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer also expressed grief over the demise of the legendary boxer.
Meet Hayer said that Kaur Singh’s life of struggle and achievements will remain an inspiration for generations to come.