India's hockey goalie may lose eyesight

New Delhi, Jul 19: Baljit Singh, ace hockey goalkeeper has been seriously injured when he was struck in the right eye during a practice session at the camp in Pune on Friday, Jul 17.

Baljit was airlifted to Delhi on Saturday, Jul 18 and was operated upon at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for corneoscleral perforation of the right eye by a team of surgeons.

Baljit Singh was struck in the eye during the golf ball practice session with goalkeeping coach Romeo James. The golf ball session is aimed at improving the reflexes of the goalkeeper.

Doctors who conducted the two-hour repair of the cornea and sclera of the eye and the lid on Saturday, Jul 18 and told the media that chances of Singh regaining his vision look dim at the moment.

Sources said, "Baljit was not wearing a helmet with an extra visor fitted to keep the golf ball away. Not only has Singh suffered severe hemorrage inside the eye, with large amount of blood clots, the 28-year-old Chandigarh keeper has also suffered retinal detachment and extensive corneal scleral perforation."

OneIndia News