Doctors skeptical about Baljit’s early recovery

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 24
The career of ace Indian hockey goal-keeper Baljit Singh has virtually crash-landed in the freak accident as he was undergoing a goal-keeping practice session with a small golf ball instead of hockey ball allegedly on the basis of the advice of his coach to ‘sharpen’ his reflexes, a practice relatively unheard of in the hockey world.

The comparatively small golf ball barged through the ‘protective gear’ worn by Baljit at the time of practice in Pune. Since, the gear was just meant to prevent any damage from big hockey ball, the golf ball had further hit the eye-ball of the promising player, causing severe damage to his right eye.

Contrary to the common perception, Baljit who, was undergoing treatment at New Delhi based All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), was not playing golf at the time of the accident, family members and the Punjab government sources revealed.

Baljit was to take part in a four country tour following the practice but, all hopes of his jubiliant family nose-dived when they were shocked by a message that he had badly injured his eye in the practice session.

Doctors at the institute, highly placed sources pointed out, were skeptical about full recovery of Baljit’s injured right eye amid lots of hopes even as, he has been prescribed medication for ten days. Delay in recovery of Baljit could mar his future prospects.

The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has already assured his full support to this bright player and had sent the Punjab’s Additional Resident Commissioner K. Siva Prasad to enquire about his health at the AIIMS on Thursday with a message that the state government would be striving to extend all possible aid and best of treatment to the ailing player.

It is a fact that Baljit was practicing goal-keeping with a golf ball and he was advised to do so by his coach. Such an unheard kind of practice was going on for last two-three months. The golf ball had hit Baljit at a speed of about 200 kms per hour, revealed Sarabjit Singh, the father of Baljit Singh while talking to The Tribune over phone from New Delhi.

“We, alongwith friends and family members, are praying for his early recovery,” said a Sarbjit Singh. Former Indian hockey captain and renowned hockey star Pargat Singh said he had never heard of use of golf ball for practice.

“It is a big folly. The golf ball is so hard that sometimes hitting by it could lead to severe damage to muscles. I don’t know why it was used for practice. Normally, we use hockey or tennis balls only,” said Pargat Singh.