Baljit Singh returns to India’s national hockey camp after two years
After meeting with an accident during a practice match in 2009 preparatory camp for the International Hockey Federation (FIH) World Cup, in Pune, the Indian national goal-keeper, Baljit Singh, returned back to the national squad’s training camp after two
years on the request of Hockey India (HI) yesterday, June 28.
Baljit almost lost his sight, when the ball hit his right eye, almost damaging the retina, cornea and lens of his eye. However, he kept himself off the field for about 10 months as he recovered from his injury after a chain of surgeries in the United States
(US).
The number one Indian goal-keeper spoke, “I hit the field in April last year and since then, I have been playing in domestic tournaments. As far as my vision is concerned, I can say that I can play hockey and do my job well. After the injury, it has been
my dream to make my place in the camp and now it has come true. I will try to secure a berth in the team.”
After 14 months, he made it into the Indian national squad. He told media that he received a call yesterday from the manager of his domestic team, Indian Oil, who informed him about his selection for the camp and that he received a letter from the HI. He
shared his happiness by stating that his efforts turned out fruitful after waiting this long.
HI’s media coordinator, Anupam Ghulati, informed that the camp begins in Bangalore on July 1 and added, “The selectors have included him in the list of probables for the Indian team. In all, there are 91 players, who have been shortlisted for the camp and
I think there are eight to 10 goalkeepers among them.”
When asked about the controversies prevailing between HI and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), Baljit responded that for any player it is not a matter of whom the player is representing, but all that matters is how many international matches are possible
for him to play.
However, he agreed with the idea of both the bodies merging so as to end up the confusion and pressure faced by the athletes for taking part in the competition.
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