Baljeet Singh, the former goal-keeper of the Indian team, is being reimbursed Rs. 2.5 lakhs from Hockey India.
Baljeet, who was India’s number one goalie a few months, told Stick2hockey.com tha HI president A.K. Mattoo talked to him and told that after so much of money pouring in now, HI is reimbursing him the money that the spent over his attendant during his stay in USA.
Baljeet, after being called back to India, had to pay from his own pocket for the further treatment as the sports minister had clearly told him that government could not afford his treatment.
This is, of course, some relief for Baljeet. “I am happy, so many people are lending a helping hand to hockey, and I am also getting the money reimbursed that I spent” said a delighted Baljeet.
But the big question still remains. What about his,or any other player’s, who gets seriously injured, future?
Injuries are a part and parcel of sports. Everyone may not be as lucky as Sandeep Singh was. He came back even more strongly after 2006 incident and went on to become the Indian captain. Even Jugraj Singh was not the same after recovery, and could hardly play for India.
So the big question is, what about their future? Now, some money is pouring in the game, but we all know hockey players earn very little as compared to cricketers or footballers or tennis players. The money they are getting now, or they might get from now onwards, would be sufficient to make their both ends meet, not at all a guarantee of their good future.
May be, I and other people are asking a little too much at the same time, from a 6-months old body- Hockey India. But this is the right time to raise the questions. Because we all have seen that with a little more effort, HI can rope in some sponsors and fetching some money for the national team, that has done fairly well in the recent past, is not a rocket science.
I am sure an experienced person like Mr. Mattoo and his team are capable enough to revive the players’ condition, and they will not be asked to play for mere ‘pride’ as Devesh Chauhan rightly said that pride doesn’t give you food or a roof!