Junior hockey player
dies while training

Junior India hockey player Jasbando Singh died while training at the Air India Sports Academy in New Delhi.

The 18-year-old, who was a member of the sub-junior team which toured Singapore last year, collapsed during a practice session at the National stadium on July 1 and was rushed to the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, where he died two days later.

Jasbando, who had joined the academy last month, had skipped the training sessions for three days last week because of fever and rejoined the camp on July 1 after having recovered. But as fate would have it, it turned out to be his last day at the academy.

Air India Sports Academy manager Ramesh Nambiar said the budding centre-half was rushed to hospital after he lost consciousness and his parents were informed.

Jasbando was shifted to the ICU after scan and blood tests indicated that his condition was serious.

"The doctors' best efforts were in vain," Nambiar said, adding the doctors felt the young player died of meningitis, apparently the result of a bout of malaria which had afflicted him two months ago.

Jasbando's body was taken to his home town in Manipur on Friday for last rites.