Rinku Singh (Getty Images) NEW DELHI: Indian cricketer Rinku Singh suffered a heartbreaking personal loss on Friday morning when his father Khanchand Singh passed away at Greater Noida’s Yatharth Hospital after battling advanced liver cancer. Hospital officials confirmed that he had been on ventilator support for the past few days.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Dr Sunil Kumar, the hospital’s spokesperson, said Khanchand Singh’s condition had deteriorated significantly after he was admitted on February 21. “He was placed on ventilator support and breathed his last early this morning,” Kumar said. Family sources also confirmed the news, saying that he had been battling liver cancer for some time.Rinku, who is part of India’s T20 World Cup squad, returned home briefly earlier in the tournament after his father’s health deteriorated after India’s Super 8 match against South Africa. Despite the emotional turmoil, the 28-year-old rejoined the team in Chennai ahead of the clash in Zimbabwe on February 26. Although he did not feature in the playing eleven, he was present with the team during India’s convincing victory.Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed his condolences in a heartfelt post on X. “I am saddened to learn of the demise of Shri Khanchand Singh Ji, father of Rinku Singh. This must be a particularly difficult time for Rinku and his family… May Waheguru grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength and courage to the bereaved.”Rinku’s former coach, Masood Amini, also confirmed the exit and noted that Khanchand Singh was on ventilator support for the past three to four days.Father’s sacrifice behind Rinku’s riseRinku, a resident of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, often spoke of his father’s sacrifices. Khanchand Singh worked in gas cylinder distribution and supported his son’s cricketing ambitions despite financial difficulties. In a touching moment last year, he attended Rinku’s engagement ceremony in Lucknow even as he battled illness. The cricketer is engaged to Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj.The last rites will be performed in Aligarh later in the day and he is expected to attend the Rink. As India prepares for their upcoming clash with the West Indies, cricket has taken a back seat for the young batsman, who is now mourning the loss of the man he considers his biggest pillar of strength.
