CHANDIGARH:: Asian boxing champion Kaur Singh, who fought an exhibition match with Muhammad Ali, died in a hospital in Haryana's Kurukshetra today, April 26. He was aged 74 and was undergoing treatment for multiple health issues.

After retiring from the Indian Army, Kaur Singh had been residing at his native village Khanal Khurd in Punjab's Sangrur district. He  bagged 6 gold medals in international competitions, including the 1982 Asian Games. One of his memorable matches was the 4-round exhibition match that he fought with boxing legend Muhammad Ali on January 27, 1980, in Delhi.

Singh has won the gold medal in heavyweight boxing at the Asian Games in New Delhi in 1982.
The Punjab government made plans to include the biographies of four outstanding athletes in the school curricula public this month. Kaur Singh is one of them as well.

Balbir Singh Sr., a three-time Olympian in hockey, Milkha Singh, a great athlete, and Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, India's first Arjuna Award winner and Olympian athlete, round out the group. They have been included in the textbooks of physical education of Class IX and X.

Finance Minister Harpal Cheema expressed his sorrow by stating that Kaur Singh's passing was a significant loss to the nation.  I have directed the officials concerned to make arrangements to bring his body to his native place. The family will receive all of our help.

Kaur Singh received the Arjuna Award in 1982, the Padma Shri in 1983, and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 1988 in honour of his accomplishments.

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