Chandigarh, August 6
The Indian Cricketer of the Century Kapil Dev suffered a nasty blow in a freak accident at the Chandigarh Golf Range here this afternoon. The bleeding cricket icon had to be removed to Mukat Hospital where three stitches closed the gash on his forehead. Kapil was playing in the Pro-Am Pitch and Putt competition after inaugurating the nine-hole course.
Panic prevailed in the golf range for 10 minutes as Kapil, with blood dripping down his nose, was helped by his coach, D.P. Azad, and long-time friend Rakesh Jolly, to the committee room where several buckets of ice failed to stop the flow of blood. He was rushed to Mukat Hospital where the doctors — Ravi Inder Singh and Pawan Kansal — carried out three stitches. After this minor surgery Kapil was discharged.
Current cricket rage Yuvraj Singh, who was on the first floor of the hospital undergoing treatment, came down to wish Kapil “early recovery”.
The freak accident happened when Kapil and his team were teeing off from the fifth hole. The team following them were already executing the shots from the fourth hole. The fourth-hole green was barely 10 metres away. A crowd of photographers were taking snaps of Kapil Dev. Then came a shout from the fourth hole tee off spot “Watch out”. But the warning call and the thud of the ball landing on Kapil's forehead happened at the same time. The Tribune photographer saw the ball in the air. He tripped and fell over breaking one of the camera lenses.
Kapil immediately took out his handkerchief and covered his forehead. Blood was yet to gush out , but it was a clear vertical cut on the forehead. His coach D.P. Azad, president of the Chandigarh Golf Association, was immediately by his side and so also was his long-time friend Rakesh Jolly. Arjuna Awardee Harmeet Kahlon, his team member, accompanied the bleeding Kapil Dev to the Committee Room. Panic spread in the city as television channels flashed the message “Kapil Dev injured”. There were panic calls from his residence. Kapil had to rush home after the hospital stitches to soothe the nerves of his near and dear ones.
What a reception to Wisden's Indian
Cricketer of the Century. The Haryana hurricane and Chandigarh hero was ignored by the Haryana Government and the Chandigarh Administration. There were no welcome arches for the hero of the century who learnt the basics of the game at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium. There were welcome arches along the route , but they were for a party leader of Haryana.
Earlier talking to newspersons, a smiling Kapil fielded questions with ease. He said he was eager to do anything for the game that had given him so much. He was happy to be in Chandigarh after getting the biggest award in cricketing history. He brushed aside the query about the Haryana Government and the Chandigarh Administration not honouring him. He said : “The love and affection I get from my fans is much more than any award” The Board of Control for Cricket in India had sounded him about starting a coaching camp. But beyond that he was yet to hear anymore from the board.
He refused to comment on the ongoings in the Haryana Cricket Association. But he was very clear on his assertion that the Chandigarh Cricket Association should be recognised by the
BCCI.
