Baljit laments the injustice

Baljit Singh, former India hockey goalkeeper, who suffered a career-threatening injury in the right eye during practice, two years ago, is a hurt man.

The 30-year-old who was voted the ‘best goalkeeper’ at the Ranchi National Games wherein he represented the Gold medal-winning Punjab side was coerced out of his home to attend the ongoing trials.

However, he was omitted from the selected list of 48 after the three-day trial at SAI South Centre here that featured an initial group of 80 probables.

“I was not mentally prepared for this selection camp… although I always nursed hopes of wearing the India colours again. I was only preparing for the domestic games before doing duty for India again. But then when the Hockey India officials promised a fair trial, I turned up and put my best foot forward.

Vision problem

“I would not have been so disturbed if I was being dropped for lack of performance during the trials… but I am being told that it’s because of my handicap in sighting (peripheral vision) the ball from the right. This is gross injustice,” said Baljit, who broke down while talking to the media here in a hurriedly called press briefing.

“The selectors and coaches (chief coach — Nobbs and goalkeeping coach — A.B. Subbaiah) decided to keep me away, not for my lack of performance (which he kept repeating)… and this shabby treatment is hurting me,” he concluded.