Kickboxing China PhD student at prestigious Canadian university suffers brain damage in brutal combat contest
- Mother of chemistry student files lawsuit over unfair boxing contest
- Son faces professional fighter, gets repeatedly kicked in head
A student from China pursuing a doctorate degree at a prestigious Canadian university has been left in a vegetative state after being repeatedly hit on the head during a kickboxing competition.
The tragedy unfolded on October 14 last year at the Western Canadian Martial Arts Championships held at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby.
The 26-year-old student, Lei Zhenhuan, fell into a coma after taking part in the tournament in which he was up against a professional-level kickboxer mistakenly placed in the novice group.
Lei’s mother filed a lawsuit in the British Columbia Supreme Court against the organisers and other relevant parties in February.
She alleges in the lawsuit that the competition advertised for “light” and “controlled” contact and explicitly prohibited the participation of professional fighters.
She said that the opponent had professional experience, had recently competed in a kickboxing tournament in Thailand, and was “fraudulently” placed in the novice group.