Mysuru kickboxer dies 2 days after grievous injury in ring

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru:

In a tragic incident, a young kickboxer died after suffering serious head injuries during a state-level K1 kickboxing championship in the city. Nikhil S, 23, hailing from Mysuru, had participated in a competition organised by Rapid Fitness Gym on the fifth floor of the Pai International building near Jnanabharathi in the city on Sunday evening.

According to sources, Nikhil collapsed after getting punched in the face by his opponent while in the arena. It was later found that the floor mat on the ground lacked proper cushioning due to which Nikhil suffered a serious head injury and lost consciousness. Also it was alleged that there was no proper emergency medical care at the venue, no paramedical staff, no oxygen facility, stretcher or ambulance service available.

Nikhil was immediately taken to GM Hospital in a private vehicle for primary treatment. He was later shifted to Manipal Hospital where he breathed his last on Wednesday. Nikhil’s last rites were held in Mysuru on Wednesday evening. His father Suresh, a retired private firm employee, is also a martial arts practitioner and a coach.

Nikhil was trained at the Vikram Martial Arts Academy at Krishnamurthypuram in Mysuru. "It was around 6 pm on Sunday when I received a call from the venue and was told that Nikhil had suffered injuries," Suresh told the city police. Upon reaching Bengaluru, Suresh visited his son, who was unconscious at the hospital.

A complaint alleging death due to negligence has been registered against the organisers and the coach at Jnanabharathi police station. However, the police on Thursday said that one of the organisers, Naveen Ravishankar, is absconding. Further investigation in the case is under way.