Saturday, 26 June , 2004: New Delhi: The hockey fraternity in the City expressed its anguish over the discriminatory treatment meted out to one of its distinguished sons at a press conference hosted by the newly-formed Hockey Journalists Association (HJA).
Vivek Singh, who represented India at the 1988 Seoul Olympics is suffering from cancer and while the Indian Hockey Federation has given a paltry Rs. one lakh for his treatment, it has been left to individuals and private organizations to rally round their colleague.
On Friday three of two former captains of the 80s, Mohammed Shahid and Zafar Iqbal along with legendary coach MK Kaushik announced the hosting of an exhibition match to raise funds for the noble cause.
The match to be staged in the Capital on July 7 will pit a team of ex-Olympians featuring a virtual who’s-who of India’s hockey past—including Shahid, Zafar, Ajitpal Singh, Pargat Singh, Aslam Sher Khan and others, against the National women’s team. The match will be preceded by another one between the visiting Bangladesh side and the Air India Academy.
It is a tragic irony that while international cricketer Mohammed Kaif has been rewarded with a house by the Uttar Pradesh government, Vivek who also hails from UP has so far received nothing from either the state or central Government.
It is hoped that small gestures such as the exemplary effort of the HJA will go some way towards alleviating the agony of the Olympian and his family.
Courtesy: khel.com