By Umairah Nasir & Aditya Vivek Verma
In the realm of life’s toughest fights, Kumaraesaperumal, now 30, faced a battle that was not scripted in any ring — a daunting showdown with cancer at the tender age of 14. However, after defeating this difficult opponent, he emerged not just as a survivor, but also as a fighter with an unbreakable spirit. Today, Kumar stands in his own arena, not with gloves to fight illness, but to coach and inspire others in the art of boxing. His journey as a cancer fighter to the founder of a thriving boxing gym is a testament to resilience, strength, and the power of unwavering determination.
Kumar challenges cancer for a sparring session PHOTO: Aditya Vivek Verma/adijpeg_
Inspired by his victory over cancer as a young teenager, Kumar’s journey has come full circle as he opens his own boxing gym. Beyond the ropes and the physical training, Kumar’s gym is a sanctuary for those seeking hope, resilience, and a fighting spirit that defies the odds. In this article, we will delve into Kumar’s remarkable story of survival and transformation, exploring how his life-altering battle with cancer shaped his path, his passion for boxing, and his mission to empower others to conquer their own challenges with unwavering strength.
Shock Diagnosis
“I was the first Indian in Singapore to actually get that thing (nasopharyngeal carcinoma cancer),” said Kumar.
When Kumar and his family questioned the doctor all they got was more disappointment.
“In Singapore, this is the first Indian to actually get this cancer. We don’t have any history on these before. And it’s not a cancer which a child usually will get,” this is what the doctor had replied to Nirmala (Kumar’s mother)
According to an article by Parkway Laboratories, most nasopharyngeal cancer cases occur in the ethnic Chinese race, at the age of 50–59 years old. This article has been reviewed by Dr Tan Min-Han, a Medical Oncologist.
When Kumar was 14, his mom, Nirmala, noticed a lump on his neck. They went to a general practitioner (GP), thinking it was just an inflammation, but it did not go away. A few weeks later, Kumar received a referral letter to a specialist at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital where the doctor did a biopsy and found out Kumar had Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a type of cancer. When they heard this, Nirmala was so shocked that she fell to the floor. Kumar felt confused and scared.
Despite her initial shock, Nirmala gathered her determination to support her son through the difficult journey ahead. They faced the challenging rounds of chemotherapy and radiation together, each day a test of their resilience. Kumar’s spirits were low, but he found strength in his mother’s unwavering love and faith in his recovery.
“From the start, I knew that he was going to get through this,” said Nirmala when asked about how she felt about Kumar being diagnosed with cancer.
Child Coach
“There was one day, where I told my mother let’s stop all this (Chemotherapy). I do not know how many days I have left. Let me just live while I can!” said Kumar. Being a very active boy, he loved all things related to martial arts, but with the cancer right on his back, everything had to go. This crushed him to his core. Little did Kumar know that the worst was yet to come for him.
The radiation emitted from the treatment started to slowly burn his skin, and he started to lose his taste buds. “Not being able to taste my mother’s cooking had to be one of the biggest setbacks I felt.” Little Kumar did not know how to react to these changes as his frustration was eating him out. Now, he imagines how he got through that phase where his childhood was being taken away from him by cancer.
Challenges, NS, and Dreams
Kumar had to face many difficulties in his life. He could not use the bus or public transportation because his immune system was very weak. He also could not eat food from outside because he didn’t know how it was prepared.
Yet, Kumar always dreamt of becoming a police officer one day. Following his dream he decided to study for a Diploma in Sports and Exercise Science at Republic Polytechnic thinking that it would help him achieve his goal. He had planned to serve National Service and sign on as a regular police officer and, when he retired at around 50 or 60 years old he wanted to share his expertise by becoming a boxing coach. Everything was set for success. However, his dreams were short-lived. Despite passing all fitness tests with flying colours, a piece of paper which mentioned his cancer history flipped his life upside down. The medical officer gave Kumar the PES (Physical Employment Status) F which for Kumar directly translated to; the end.
Dreams Dashed and New Dreams Found
Kumar knew he had two years to do nothing so he decided to try everything. The idea of opening up a boxing gym popped into his mind, upon consulting his mother he received a lot of support and encouragement but no template to start with. Kumar went home and picked every single pair of boxing gloves he could find along with his punching bag, and focus mitts and embarked on a mission.
Kumar with his booth at RP to recruit members PHOTO: Kumar
To find members for his boxing gym, Kumar went back to Republic Polytechnic (RP) with a foldable table, a few pictures of Mike Tyson and a dream. Having set up a “booth” at RP he started to advertise his services, and a few signed up. Little did he know that this success was short-lived too, Kumar was asked to leave RP as his business was not registered. Furious and dedicated Kumar went and registered the business on that day itself. 1st July 2014, King of Strength Boxing Gym (KOS) was born. KOS found its temporary training ground at an amphitheatre at Admiralty Park just beside RP to make it easier for the members to come for boxing training. To be able to financially support himself and his business, Kumar worked a full day shift just to earn $25 a day serving food at a nearby hawker centre. Kumar’s dedication and resilience are enough to inspire many individuals.
Kumar worked at a Hawker centre to earn $25/day in order to sustain his business PHOTO: Kumar
Paying it forward through boxing
King of Strength, situated along Sembawang Road, is now a renowned boxing gym with a team of four dedicated and experienced coaches committed to honing their members’ skills and strength. The gym’s founder, Kumar, leads the charge with his unwavering passion for the sport. Head Coach Krishna brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, ensuring that members receive top-notch training. Senior Coach Fazil and junior Coach Josiah complete the team, adding their own unique insights and energy to the mix. Together, they create a dynamic and empowering environment where aspiring boxers can reach their full potential and become the true Kings of Strength.
Kumar and Coach Krishna with a bond beyond emotion PHOTO: Umairah Nasir
“Kumar’s resilience is something that I will always admire. I look up to him as my brother and a role model. I am always grateful for what he has done for me as an individual and for KOS” said Coach Krishna when asked how he felt about Kumar. Krishna first joined KOS as an intern. He decided to stick with KOS from its early days till date, he is now the head coach of the gym.
“If I will ever do coaching for boxing, it will only be for KOS, it will only be for Coach Kumar. If not I will never coach anyone or anywhere else” said Krishna showing how much Kumar means to him.
The gym offers a welcoming atmosphere for boxers to improve their skills and fitness. King of Strength stands out for its personalised teaching approach, creating the best training experience. It values respect, collaboration, and community among its members.
Though he runs a successful gym now, Kumar continues to suffer side effects of the cancer treatment. One of the most significant consequences of his cancer treatment was the damage to his thyroid gland, which resulted in a lifelong reliance on thyroid medication. Another unanticipated side effect appeared a decade later, affecting his dental health. Kumar’s teeth began to worsen resulting in tooth loss, and he discovered that this, too, was linked to his previous cancer treatments. Kumar is concerned that the ongoing dental issues will cause more teeth to fall out in a domino effect. His saliva glands were also affected, leaving him constantly in need of a water bottle to speak comfortably.
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, one of the most common complications from head and neck cancer radiation therapy is salivary gland dysfunction (SGD).
These ongoing challenges have left Kumar with lingering insecurities, but his resilience shines through as he continues to face the side effects of cancer with determination and strength, proving that the human spirit can endure even in the face of hardships.
“So again like I said the thing is still haunting me behind but over time I think you grow up too much that you you know, let me face this.” said Kumar when asked if he is still scared.
Living in the NOW
Kumar is very proud of his gym, but he considers his greatest accomplishment to be his family — his wife Mariya and his new-born baby girl.
Kumar and his wife Mariya PHOTO: Aditya Vivek Verma/adijpeg_
“My family is what I care about the most now. Life is very unexpectable, if I suddenly have to go, I just want my family to have everything they ever wanted,” expressed Kumar when asked about whether he is scared that cancer will make a U-turn. It is also an important point to note that Kumar is not eligible for any sort of insurance due to his cancer history
Kumar’s incredible journey has transformed the unfaltering determination of a young boy who once battled nose cancer into a prime example of resilience, courage, and persistent determination. Kumar, 30, is a testament to the transformative power of boxing, a sport that not only shaped his character but also paved the way for his success. Through his successful boxing gym, he has become an inspiration to countless others, reaching out to those in despair and reminding them that hope and strength can be found within the confines of a ring.
Fighter then, Fighter now
“Even if cancer comes back, I am ready If a 13-year-old I can fight cancer, I surely can again!” said Kumar when asked if he is prepared if cancer makes a comeback.
Hey Adi and Umairah, renfred here :D !!! I was actually surprised when you both pitched this angle, not because the story was bad, but because I was impressed that you two managed to source out such a news worthy angle. I also feel that you both did make use of Andrew's advice exceptionally well. Your newsmaker is just a normal person at first glance, but you managed to uncover so many aspects of the "so what" in his life story, which gives it a lot more added value. Appreciate the effort, good job guys!!
Hi yall, thanks for the presentation you gave in class today. I think that the flow of the story is really good, there is a form of story telling of how he started his journey from him getting diagnosed with the rare form of cancer to his troubled youth, to the start of his business and the last being to show that he became a family man. I believe that the golden quotes were showed very prominently making us the readers know and it adds like a form of emphasis to the story. And the intro that stuck to me was definitely the quote which is a word play I believe that he fights (boxing) and also a fighter in…
Hi team, thank you for the presentation! I think that you have a very inspiring story to share. I personally would be drawn to read the article because I am interested in combat sports and how it strengthens us as individuals. Especially when he has been through some medical condition, if he is able to do it, so can we. I love the quote that you used that if cancer comes back, he's ready to fight it again. Even though there are stories about cancer survivors and how they move forward in life, I'll still be interested to read your profile because of how human-centric and personal every story is.