Singaporean bodybuilder dies after Muay Thai fight with singer

Pradip Subramanian dies after dueling with a former music competition contestant.

Pradip Subramanian (left) fights Steven Lim in Muay Thai on September 23. Photo: Asia Fighting Championship.

Pradip Subramanian, 32, president of the Singapore World Bodybuilding and Physique Federation, died at Singapore General Hospital about an hour after fighting Muay Thai with YouTube star Steven Lim on September 23, according to Reuters.

The Asia Fighting Championship held a celebrity match during its opening ceremony at Marina Bay Sands.Subramanianwas a last-minute replacement for Sylvester Sim, who withdrew the night before the match. Sim and Lim were both contestants on the 2004 singing competition Singapore Idol.

The hospital said that Subramanian suffered respiratory failure and cardiac arrest leading to his death. The final medical report will be released in 30-60 days.

The fateful September 23 bout was Subramanian's first Muay Thai fight, according to the Strait Times. "They are not real fighters, my nephew should not have fought," Subramanian's uncle said.

Many people wondered why Subramanian was allowed into the ring when he had such a short preparation time.

"For someone who is not a Muay Thai fighter to be given only one day's notice is ridiculous. It puts him at unnecessary risk," said freelance fighter May Ooi. "Two men throwing punches at each other is no joke."

Lim, 41, was heartbroken by Subramanian's passing. "I won but I feel so sad."

According to VNE