SBW calls for support, prayers for Haider’s recovery and family in this difficult time
From left: Ahmed Merhi, Sonny Bill Williams, Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka along with Mohammed Iliyas after their meeting at the Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort on October 28, 2024. Photo: Waisea Nasokia
An investigation will be carried out on the incident involving featherweight boxer, Ubayd Haider, who collapsed after his fight on Saturday and is now fighting for his life at the Lautoka Aspen Hospital.
He suffered a head injury and underwent surgery on Sunday and is in a coma at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
This was revealed to SUNsports yesterday by the Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka who will be consulting the Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru on the matter.
Gavoka said there is a need to be cautious when dealing with contact sports like boxing.
“We need to be careful with how we prepare our people and we must know the rules and the risks (involved),” he said.
“You have to do the right thing. This person is dehydrated. So when you’re dehydrated, your whole system collapses and then you’re getting blows on top of that. You can imagine.
“I will be asking the Minister for Sports to look into this. It should not be happening, there should be some strict regulations in place. It’s not an easy sport. The regulations must be very strict to safeguard our people.”
Haider suffered a ninth round TKO (technical knockout) loss to Runqi Zhou of Australia in their IBO (International Boxing Organisation) Asia Pacific featherweight title fight at Nadi’s Prince Charles Park.
Sports legend and event chief guest Sonny Bill Williams said all that can be done are fervent prayers.
“I know the Singh boys (Sebastian and Haider) well,” he said.
“God willing, I wish Haider pulls through. He’s still 50-50 at the moment.
“Like a lot of his close ones. So straight after the fight, we went to the hospital and we stayed there. Obviously, it wasn’t anything we could do, but we just wanted to show support and love to the mother, to the brother, to the wife,” Williams said.
“He’s in our daily prayers and we’ve been praying a lot. And God willing, he makes a full recovery. So let’s just wait and see at the moment.”
Haider’s wife Helen has asked the public to appreciate their privacy during these trying times.
“They are monitoring him for the next 48 to 72 hours. He is still in a coma at the moment. Only close relatives are allowed to visit him,” she added.
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