IOA president Suresh Kalmadi held the Olympic torch at the historic Kutb Minar. He and the moments were radiating the message of national oneness. But, at distant Varanasi, another torch is passing through a treacherous path. When whole Delhi city is lost in the radiance of the Olympic torch, the fight for his light for the Olympic star is getting worse at Bombay. Would Vivek, who spent best part of his life in hockey, have ever thought his lifetime effort will get drowned under the towering sacred flames of Olympic torch. How pathetic it is for Vivek, and his supporters, to know that the Olympic torch relay and the euphoria it generated came to ground the efforts to get him the solace.

On the day the torch touched down Delhi, proliferation of his cancer came to be known though a series of scans. Due to this, he was again to make a journey to Mumbai. Eleven days ago, the Sports Minister was approached for help. The Minister also gave assurance. Sports Ministers also asked IOA President Suresh Kalmadi to extend help. But still things are to move.

It is understood IOA is busy with Olympic torch. They are worried about 2010 Commonwealth Games, how to get 2014 Asian games allotted to India and how to get even Olympics in 2016. These occasions gets prominence as the torch touches down the country.

How a poor Olympic player’s welfare strike anyone’s mind in the glorious congregation such film stars as Aishwarya Rai, Amir Khan and Rani Mukherjee, who are here at Delhi holding atop the torch? Vivek after all played the Olympics 16 years before!

What we hear at Sports Ministry is also the usual refrain — the file is moving. To know about Vivek Singh, who represented India for more than 100 internationals, they are writing a letter leisurely. They could not even find out Vivek’s address. We were also told their inability to do anything as the ministry is busy in torch relay. Accordingly sources in the Sports Ministry, the Sports Minister is interested in social programmes. Whatever be the situation, the fact of the matter is that when a player is oscillating between life and death, the Ministry could do nothing. Some sports journalists are in touch with some companies. Those companies are also in the same wavelength — let the torch relay be over.

But will the disease of Vivek knows that in India the Olympic torch has come and hence let me wait. It was found after CT scan that he was advised to go to Bombay for further tests and treatment. He is going there on Saturday.

Mohammad Shahid, who submitted memorandum to the Sports Minister and to star cricketer Kapil Dev, is dumb-bounded. “Tell those people. There is not much time left. Financial help is urgently needed. Vivek’s condition is becoming critical. If Vivek’s wife would one day ask what this is the condition of a famous hockey player, I will be left with no answer.

Even IHF Secretary, who spoke to Vivek and Shahid, wants to know how much they need instead of what the IHF can do for Vivek! Even as singers, dancers and artists showcased their talents at the National Stadium to mark the end Indian part of torch relay, the officials are busy with Olympic torch and not the Player like Vivek who excelled in the Olympics proper!

Courtesy: Hindustan(Hindi Daily)