New Delhi, Sept. 21 -- Building up for the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, the big question and focus for India was whether the men's hockey team can end a 32-year wait to crown themselves champions. There was South Korea, and Pakistan standing in their way, although the previous victory had come at the Thai capital, in the 1966 Games.

However, the sheer human drama surrounding bantamweight boxer Dingko Singh took over days before the squad was scheduled to leave for Bangkok. For the low he experienced, the Manipur boxer soared at the Games, writing his own dream script by winning gold, India's first for 16 years-since heavyweight Kaur Singh emerged victorious in the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games.

Few had doubts about Dingko's hand speed and pun...