Sarita Devi contracts COVID-19, takes heart from cancer-battling Dingko who beat virus

Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medallist Laishram Sarita Devi and her husband, Thoiba Singh, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. 38-year-old boxer and her husband were in her hometown in Imphal, Manipur and decided to take a test after Devi was running a fever and had a cold for three days. couple has been shifted to a government-run COVID-19 care centre at UNACCO School in West Imphal district, where y will be observed for a fortnight. 

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Sarita Devi COVID-19 test in Imphal comes back positive

While talking to Indian Express, Sarita Devi revealed that she was "suffering from fever apart from soreness in body" and a "light cold". Her symptoms started after she visited her bror's home, where she helped ir family after his wife gave birth. y initially thought she had muscle cramps but decided to get tested. While she and her husband tested positive, her eight-year-old son Tomthil, cousin sister and her daughter tested negative. Devi is a three-time world champion and a five-time Asian medalist who was a part of  Athletes’ Commission of International Boxing Association in 2019. 

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Sarita Devi taking inspiration from Dingko Singh, who beat COVID-19 despite battling cancer

Two months ago, 1998 Asian Games boxing champion Dingko Singh tested positive for COVID-19. Devi helped Dingko Singh and his wife Babai Devi travel to Delhi. Devi remained in touch with him after y returned to Imphal. During her interview, Devi revealed that Dingko was one of first people she talked to after her diagsis was confirmed. “Dingko sir recovered from COVID-19 while battling cancer. He talked to me and assured me that everything will be fine,” Sarita Devi added.

Before leaving for her treatment, Devi told her son t to worry about her and his far, and keep himself occupied by reading books. y are aware of recovery stories through newspapers and or forms of media and expect to recover as Indian hockey team players did. y are being given medicines to reduce fever, while she talks to her son over phone to keep herself occupied. "re should t be any stigma around COVID-19 patients. But on or hand, we should follow all precautions,” Devi said.

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Sarita Devi boxing career

boxing champion wants to get back to her training, as she has w moved to a lower weight category. Before Olympic qualifiers in Jordan, Manipur native was defeated by Simranjit Kaur in 60kg category. Kaur qualified for Olympics, and Devi will be trying to qualify in  57kg qualifiers for Tokyo Olympics in 2021. While national camp for Indian women boxers remains on hiatus, Devi will resume her training from home after recovery. She also added that in 57kg category, her height will prove to be an advant. "I had been training at my home since March and once full training resumes, my focus will be on fast feet movement, which will be a key in this new category," Devi explained.

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(Im credits: PTI)