National Boxing Champion Kaur Singh, who is the only boxer in India to have entered the ring against boxing legend Muhammad Ali, was struggling to repay Rs 2 lakh amount he had borrowed to fund his treatment for cardiac ailments, media reports said.
Distressed by the news, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan offered a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the ailing boxer. The money was given through Shah Rukh's Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR's) team.
"Sportspersons bring pride to a country and it is our duty to look after them as a society. After reading about Kaur Singh, we as a sporting unit felt the need to stand by our fellow sportsman and urge everyone else to do the same in their own way. We wish Kaur Singh a speedy recovery and a healthy life," said SRK.
As per reports, Singh was sidelined by the government when he was going through a financial crisis to fund his cardiac treatment. But as soon his news was brought in to light, help poured in from all corners of the country.
Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh tweeted that he has cleared a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the boxer and wished him a speedy recovery.
Later, Union sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore also sanctioned Rs 5 lakh to help Kaur pay his medical bills.
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) too chipped in with Rs 1 lakh assistance towards Singh's cause.
Singh won gold in the 1982 Asian Games, got the Arjuna Award in 1982 and the Padmashri in 1983.
He hung up his gloves after he represented India in boxing in 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and won two consecutive bouts.
