Why a National level boxer was forced sell kulfi for living; Eye-watering tale of Dinesh Kumar

Even after winning a total of 17 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze medals and representing India at national and international levels, no government assistance came for Dinesh which eventually forced him to become a kulfi vendor.

Dinesh Kumar is now forced to sell kulfi (a kind of ice cream) on the streets of Haryana to earn his livelihood. (ANI)

New Delhi: An Asian Games silver medallist in boxing, a 17-time gold medal winner and national level boxing champion, Dinesh Kumar, is now forced to sell kulfi (a kind of ice cream) on the streets of Haryana to earn his livelihood. In a most heartbreaking story, Dinesh sustained an injury in a road accident, following which his father had to borrow money for his treatment. This added to the loan which his father had already taken for Dinesh to send him to compete at the international level. Even after winning a total of 17 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze medals and representing India at national and international levels, no government assistance came for Dinesh which eventually forced him to become a kulfi vendor in order to repay the mounting interest on the debt. Explaining his plight, Kumar was quoted by ANI as saying that he was forced to sell ice cream along with his father as neither previous nor the present government has provided any help to him. Further demanding a stable government job, the award boxer said that he could also train budding boxers for global events. "I request the government to help me in repaying the loan. I am a good player. I need a stable government job. With the government's help, I can prepare youngsters for the international events," ANI quoted Dinesh as saying.