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Hockey Player
Faces Grim Scenario
WSN
Bureau
 Top
hockey player Baljit Singh Dhadhwal underwent surgery on his right
eye at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here and
the doctors remain non-committal on his complete recovery, but all
that
India goalkeeper Baljit Singh Dadhwal seems worried about are the
months he will be forced to stay away from hockey.
While the doctors have decided to keep him under observation for at
least another 10 days before deciding on the next step in the
treatment, Baljit is already fretting about when he can get out of
hospital. For someone training almost five-six hours a day, every
day, being confined to a bed is the biggest punishment.
The situation is grim, the doctors say, but Baljit has a smile on
his face right through the interaction, as if determined not to let
the seriousness get to him. The 28-year old is concerned, his father
Sarabjit Singh tells us, but he still only thinks of the sport.
"He always wanted to win the World Cup for his country," Sarabjit
says. He used to tell his father that "this time we will prove
ourselves". In fact, Baljit had even postponed his marriage,
scheduled for last October, for after the World Cup. "Game ke liye
humne sab kuch postpone kar diya, is injury ne game ko hi postpone
kar diya (I postponed everything for the game, this injury has
postponed the game itself)," he says, always smiling. The doctors
have asked for strict restrictions on visitors, not just to void any
infections to the eye but also minimise any pain to his facial
muscles. They have also advised against anything that could put a
strain on his other eye, including watching television or reading.
His team mates at Indian Oil have been taking turns to be with him
but that hasn't helped ease the pain.
"The other day, I could not sleep at night because I rest all
through the day. So I decided to walk around, looking for someone
who could give me something to help me sleep. "But when I found a
nurse, she refused, saying any medication could be provided only on
the doctor's recommendations. Sometimes there is a slight pressure
on the operated eye as well," he says. "Can you imagine how
difficult it is for a sportsman to not do anything all day?"
Sarabjit, who has been by his son's side ever since he was airlifted
to
Delhi
on Saturday morning,
knows that it's important for his son to follow the doctor's
instructions for a smooth recovery, but once out of Baljit's ear
shot, the concern and apprehension is evident on his face. "The
doctors have cleaned the blood and stitched his retina back. But
they haven't said anything. We can only hope and pray."
There's more than just a hint of irony when Baljit says the injury
did not come as a shocker to him.
He's used to these setbacks. "The day I was injured, in the morning,
the team physiotherapist told me I was getting into better shape and
would do much better on the field. My first thought at the time was
that each time I got close to top fitness, some injury set me back.
The same evening, this happened," he says, not complaining, just
stating a fact.
However, despite reports that his chances of recovering complete
vision are slim given the seriousness of the injury, the mood around
him is not depressing at all. Baljit, on his part, is only waiting
for the day he can get back on to the field.
22
July 2009
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