Olympian boxer, who now drives a taxi, recommended for Dhyan Chand award

Editor's note: In such days of gloom amid the pandemic, it’s hard to come by a positive piece of news, something that will cheer you up, no matter what. Well, here’s one of those rare ones.

Atlanta Olympian and five-time national boxing champion, Lakha Singh, who was forced to drive a rented taxi to earn a living, has been recommended for the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games.

The award is named after Indian hockey legend Dhyan Chand and it is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. As of 2019, the award comprises a statuette, a certificate, ceremonial dress, and a cash prize of ₹5 lakh.

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Lakha is an 81kg bronze medallist in the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games and a former Armyman.

He represented the country at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in 91kg, but had moved to the United States post retirement. However, he was not doing well financially and returned to Ludhiana.

Last year, a group of Arjuna award-winning boxers came together to lend a helping out to him and bail him out of the financial stress.

It goes without saying that the recommendation for Dhyan Chand award, which is the lifetime achievement sporting honour of the Republic of India, comes at the right time. Lakha had enjoyed an illustrious career, the highlight being when he won Asian medal for India, and thoroughly deserves some recognition. .