Arunachal loses karate player Sangio two days after Amak death

GUWAHATI: Even as Arunachal Pradesh mourned the loss of talented boxer Amak Sonam, who succumbed to her injuries at a hospital in Guwahati on Sunday, the state suffered another shock in just 48 hours when the sports authority of Her fellow trainee at India’s Special Training Center (STC) in Naharlagun, Sangio Jomin, also died on Tuesday.
Karate player Sangio, a gold medalist at the All India Inter SAI tournament held in Imphal in April this year, breathed her last at a private hospital in Dibrugarh on Tuesday evening.
The 16-year-old had been on ventilator in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital since Monday.
“She was declared brought dead at around 5:20 pm on Tuesday. Over the last one week, the medical staff at the Dibrugarh hospital tried their best to save her but on Monday doctors told us that her brain had stopped working. Diya. We were hoping for a miracle but God had other plans,” said a close family member.
“We are taking her body back to Itanagar today, and will reach the city around 7 or 8 pm. We are heartbroken, she was a bright hope but fate had something else in store for her, The family member added.
Sangio sustained severe injuries to his face and jaws during the fatal accident when she, along with two other players and the driver of the scooter they were riding, collided with a stationary truck after their car’s brakes failed near Naharlagan.
She eventually succumbed to her injuries on Monday after her brain stopped functioning.
Born to the late Sangio Tashok Rughu, the young Juman hailing from Kra Dadi district of the state won the gold medal in the 6th International Karate Championship in Kolkata last year.

Another athlete, Heema Khoda, was discharged from the hospital after receiving stitches.
Amak’s brother, who was riding in the vehicle, suffered a broken arm and head injuries and was released from a local hospital.

Before the accident, the three youngsters were on their way to enroll in their respective schools.
Expressing his condolence, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu tweeted, “Sadly, the young, talented karate player of Arunachal, Ms. Sangio Jomin, passed away in a road accident. Jomin in April, All India Inter-SA. Won a karate gold medal in the I tournament. My sympathies go out to the bereaved family in this hour of sorrow. May Lord Buddha rest their souls in peace.”
The deaths of the two athletes once again highlight a critical point on road safety and the use of protective gear while riding two-wheelers. Sources close to the incident had said that none of the players were wearing helmets, even if three riders on scooters were to be ignored.