Goalkpeer Baljit Singh injured, replaced
Indian hockey goalkeeper Baljit Singh was operated upon at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi today for Corneoscloral Perforation of the right eye.
The 28 year old custodian from Chandigarh suffered a global rupture during the training session at Balewadi, Pune, last evening. He was struck in the eye during the golf ball practice session with the goalkeeping coach Romeo James. The Indian team is undergoing its training camp there for the four nation European tour which commences on 24 July. The team is scheduled to play 12 Tests against England, Belgium, Spain and Holland in its four week tour.
The ultrasonography tests done at Pune showed the globe to be shrunken and deformed with the intra-ocular contents showing heterogeneous appearance with hemorrhage in the vitreous.
Hockey India officials swung into immediate action and organised his airlift to Delhi airport early morning where an AIIMS ambulance took Baljit to the hospital for the emergency operation by a team of surgeons led by Dr. (Prof) Sudershan Khokhar, cornea specialist.
The global rupture has damaged the retina, cornea and lens of his eye because of the direct trauma suffered due to this incident.
Hockey India Secretary General Mohd. Aslam Khan requested Union Minister of State for Health Mr. Dinesh Trivedi to provide the best possible treatment to Baljit which AIIMS Director Dr. R.C.Decka personally supervised.
Officials of Hockey India and Sports Authority were at the airport to receive Baljit and were at the hospital during the three hour surgery.
Doctors have said that they will keep Baljit in hospital under observation for the next few days.
Hockey India and the Sports Authority of India would also come forward to contribute towards the surgery expenses.
Baljit Singh will now be replaced in the 22 member squad by standby PR Sreejesh.
Courtesy: Hockey India Media Release
5 Comments
Dear James
Goalkeeper eyes are covered with helmet and eye protection cage . Was he practicing without eye protection and helmet . Will some one answer ar be accountable.Incident like this will never happen with Australian or European team .Pure case of negligence.We demand full investigation report .
very sad —–Balgit !—HOPE FOR THE BEST —WE PRAY TO GOD —WE ARE WITH YOU .
god bless you
Firstly wishing Baljit a quick and complete recovery. Secondly while I commend James for inovative training methods, it is also his responcibility to ensure safety of those under his charge. Surely a pair of cheep but
study plastic eye protectors could have avoided or at least lessened the damage. Being inovative is good but please also ensure that you also think through such methods and take adequate protective measures. Golf balls are small enough to get through the protective grill and someone is paying the price for this goofup. Please treat our players with due respect as they are indeed National Treasures.
yes Prem .If golf ball is used , cage has to small .James must go back and play marbel for ignoring safety rules. Does he know golf ball travel twice the speed of hockey ball ??/