Moscow Olympics hockey heroes Pal, Kaushik battling Covid-19
LUCKNOW: Hockey India (HI) extended financial support on Thursday to Ravinder Pal Singh, a member of India’s victorious 1980 Moscow Olympics team who has been in a Lucknow hospital ICU since April 24 with severe Covid-19 symptoms.
“Hockey India will transfer Rs five lakh to the hospital for the treatment of Ravinder Pal Singh on the opening of lockdown in Delhi on May 10,” HI president Gyanendro Nigombam said in a statement.
Former hockey player, RP Singh, director (sports) in Uttar Pradesh and HI athletes’ representative in the state, is coordinating with the family of Ravinder Pal, who also played in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Ravinder Pal’s niece Pragya Yadav had requested the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra for financial support while his condition has worsened in the last few days. Batra, also the international hockey federation (FIH) president, forwarded the request to HI.
“I am forwarding a request to you to please arrange the best of financial support for Olympian and gold medallist of 1980 (Olympic) Games, Ravinder Pal Singh, who is critically ill and is hospitalised in Lucknow. His niece Pragya Yadav is asking for help,” stated Batra, who is also the international Hockey Federation (FIH) chief.
“He was with me since 1980 when he came to the sports hostel in Meerut as a kid and become an Olympian and a gold medallist. He is a great player and a true gentleman. Your support is needed. Please do your best,” Batra added.
The family of Ravinder Pal, who also played in the 1979 Junior World Cup, has struggled to meet his daily hospital expenditure of around Rs 30,000. Ravinder Pal had taken premature retirement from State Bank of India.
Ravinder Pal played in all major tournaments in the 1980s, including the Karachi Champions Trophy (1980 & 1983), Silver Jubilee 10-Nation Cup (Hong Kong, 1983), World Cup (Mumbai, 1982), Asia Cup (Karachi, 1982), the India-Pakistan Test series in 1981 and the Malaysian quadrangular series in 1980.
Lucknow IG of police, Laxmi Singh, has given Rs 2 lakh for the former player’s treatment.
Meanwhile, MK Kaushik, also a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics team and later coach of the men’s and women’s national teams, is also undergoing treatment in a nursing home in New Delhi for Covid-19.
The condition of the 66-yearold is said to be serious. Kaushik was the coach when India won gold at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, ending a 32-year wait for glory in the continental event. The Hockey India has also given Rs 5 lakh for Kaushik’s treatment.
“Hockey India will transfer Rs 5 lacs to the hospital where hockey Olympian is being treated in Delhi on Monday,” HI’s message to Kaushik’s son Eshan Kaushik says on Thursday.
Former goalkeeper of Indian team, Mir Ranjan Negi has hoped for the speedy recovery of both the legendry players soon. “Hope both will recover soon. I have played along with Pal and Kaushik for a long time,” he says in a message to a common group on Thursday.