The Asian Age: New Delhi

Aug. 4: Injured India hockey goalkeeper Baljit Singh left for the US on Tuesday for his post operative treatment at the John Hopkins Medical Centre, Baltimore. The 28-year old underwent surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here last month after he was hit in the right eye during practice in Pune.

Baljit will now be examined by renowned eye specialist Dr Robert Morris in Alabama next week. President of the International Society of Ocular Trauma, Dr Morris is considered an international leader in eye trauma.

Said Baljit ahead of his departure, “I think this (going to the US) will prove to be the biggest step in my treatment. I can feel some pressure on the injured eye at the moment, but hope it will improve once the treatment begins. I am scheduled to have my first sessions with the doctors in the US tomorrow,” he said.

The goalkeeper will be accompanied by Dr Kiran Gopalakrishnan, a member of the AIIMS team that performed the surgery.

Baljit had been badly injured in his right eye with a golf ball while training at the coaching camp at Pune and had to be airlifted immediately to Delhi.

The sports ministry will bear the expenses of Baljit’s treatment abroad.