Hockey World Cup 2023: Same two shame!
Updated On: 28 January, 2023 10:33 AM IST | Rourkela | Ashwin Ferro
While England’s star forward Sam Ward has excelled after recovering from a serious eye injury, India goalkeeper Baljit Singh, who suffered a similar situation in 2009, recalls being denied the opportunity to wear the India jersey again
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India’s ’keeper Baljit Singh dives to save a shot from Germany’s Jannik Otto during the Punjab Gold Cup match in 2009. Pics/AFP, hockey India
Former goalkeeper Baljit Singh and England’s star forward Sam Ward share a similar story. Only, the India custodian’s tale has a sad end. Baljit was on top of his game in 2009 when a golf-ball practice session with Team India in Pune saw him hit in the eye, damaging it seriously. Ward was also on top of his game in 2019, when a ball struck him in his eye during an Olympic qualifier against Malaysia.
Baljit underwent surgery as did Ward, who also suffered other serious facial and cranial injuries. Both players recovered well, but endured from peripheral vision (the inability to see clearly from the corner of the eye). And while a face mask-wearing Ward made a successful return to international hockey and has excelled at this World Cup, Baljit, India’s No. 1 goalkeeper between 2006 and 2009, was never given a chance to don the India jersey again.
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