Baljit to get treatment in USA, sports ministry to foot bill

Nursing an injured eye, Baljit Singh will undergo treatment in the United States to regain his full vision after the sports ministry agreed to foot the bill for the trip.

Hockey India secretary Mohammad Aslam Khan said the ministry has agreed to bear the expenses, thus clearing the decks for the custodian's treatment in the US.

"We have decided to send him to US for treatment and the sport ministry is bearing all the expenses for his treatment," Aslam said.

"We are now in discussion with the ministry to make all the arrangements for his travel. As soon as the formalities
are over, he will leave for the US," he added.

Even though reports claimed Baljit is likely to be treated at the Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, Aslam said nothing has been finalised yet.

"Doctors here (at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences) are working out whom and where to consult in USA," Aslam said.

"We are determined to see Baljit back into the field and the federation is behind him," Aslam added.

Baljit was left with a damaged right eye after a golf ball, with which he was practicing, sneaked through his visor to rupture his globe during the practice in Pune.

The custodian was rushed to the capital that day and he underwent an emergency surgery even though doctors are still not ready to assure that he would regain full vision.

Sports minister MS Gill had visited him in the hospital and assured him of help.