IANS

New Delhi, Jul 20: Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are closely monitoring the condition of Indian hockey goalkeeper Baljit Singh, whose right eye was operated upon Saturday after it was hit during a practice session.

Baljit underwent a critical surgery Saturday after he was struck on his eye while practicing with a golf ball during a session with goalkeeping coach Romeo James in Pune Friday. The impact was so hard that it damaged retina, cornea and lens of his eye, raising doubts on his ability to regain full vision. He was immediately flown to Delhi and underwent a three-hour operation at the AIIMS.

"The injury is quite severe and as of now we have done the primary repair. But it is only after three-four days that the picture will be clear," Dr. Tushar Aggarwal, assistant professor in the Department of Opthalmology, told IANS.

"We have to see how much healing has happened and based on that we can take a call whether we have to go for another surgery. It depends on how much potential is left in his eye."

Baljit met with the freak incident at Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune where the Indian team is undergoing training for the four-nation European tour which commences July 24.