Yora Tade, a 24-year-old up-and-coming kickboxer from the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, has died days after suffering a blow to the head during a national championship.
The athlete was rushed to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai on Sunday after a “hard knock on his head” took him down during the final match of the National Kickboxing Championship, the hospital told CNN Wednesday. He was in Chennai to compete in the Wako India Seniors National Kickboxing Championship, The Arunachal Times reported.
Tade collapsed in the ring after opponent Kesav Mudel kicked him in the head during the match in Chennai on Sunday, the second such fatality in as many months, Agence France-Presse reported. The mixed martial arts expert was competing in the Indian edition of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations tournament.
“The patient was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition and died during treatment,” a doctor at the Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital told AFP.
The mixed martial arts expert succumbed to his injuries while in the ICU on Tuesday “without responding to treatment,” the hospital said.
Police are investigating, and authorities were working to return Tade’s body to his hometown. His death came after the July demise of Nikil Suresh, 23, who also died from a brain injury after being punched in the face by his opponent while competing in a state tournament in Bangalore, AFP said.
Tade’s death reverberated throughout the kickboxing world, starting with his home state.
“Jolted to learn that our bright Kickboxer Yora Tade left for his heavenly abode,” tweeted Pema Khandu, the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh. “Too early to leave us, dear Tade! No words to express my grief. You will ever be in our hearts. Condolences to bereaved family, friends & admirers. May your journey to ultimate abode be peaceful!”
“I am extremely shocked & sad to hear the sudden demise of Late Yora Tade; a young promising boxer of our state,” tweeted Mama Natung, the state’s minister of sports and youth affairs. “It’s a great loss for Sports fraternity of our state in general. My deepest condolence to the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace.”
