Asian Games gold medalist battling liver, kidney ailments

64-year-old Bhattal was also conferred with the Dhyan Chand award is now unable to talk due to his ailment. Bhattal’s family says that they have received no help from the government in such health conditions.

ANI Image

NEW DELHI: Hakkam Singh Bhattal who has twice won gold for India is now battling with liver and kidney ailments. 64-year-old Bhattal was also conferred with the Dhyan Chand award is now unable to talk due to his ailment. Bhattal’s family says that they have received no help from the government in such health conditions. His wife said, "The government should help us. My husband's pension is the only help for us. A player is popular only till he is a player after that no one even asks him.” She further added “We have only 2 acres of land and my husband's pension is only Rs 7,000. In such a situation it is difficult to do treatment." A gold medal winner in the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok, and the 1979 Asian Track and Field Championships in Tokyo, Bhattal was also awarded the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games by then President Pratibha Patil in August 2008. (with additional input from agencies)