Indian sprinter Hima Das scripted history by winning India’s first-ever gold at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships. The country cannot stop celebrating her big success, so much so that, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has already expressed his desire to make a biopic on the 18-year-old Assamese athlete. Ironically, it is the same country that has made forgetting achievements and ill-treatment of former sportspersons and athletes a norm. Hakam Singh Bhattal, a 64-year-old battling with serious liver and kidney ailments is a former Asiad gold medallist. He had won the gold medal at the 1978 Asian Games in the 20-kilometre race walk. Today, Hakam Singh is fighting for his life!

Hakam Singh made the country proud by winning a gold medal in Asian Games 1978 held in Bangkok. He bagged the first place in the 20-kilometre race walk discipline. India who do not boast much achievements in track and field, Hakam Singh Bhattal’s victory remains a memorable one in athletics. Not just the quadrennial event, he also won a gold in the Asian Track and Field Meeting held at Tokyo in 1979. But all of it seems to be forgotten by the country. The state government clearly lacking empathy has left the former athlete on his own as his health deteriorates.

Admitted at a private hospital in Punjab's Sangrur with several liver and kidney ailments, Hakam Singh is in miserable condition. As for his family, seeing the former champion inch towards his end due to lack of proper medication is worst. They are struggling to bear the expense of treatment with no help provided by the state government. Hakam Singh did not just have an illustrious career as an active athlete but also as a coach and later as a part of Punjab police.

Watch: Hakam Singh Bhattal Battling Serious Liver and Kidney Ailments

Speaking to ANI, his wife said that the government does not care much for athletes, caring for them only for as long as they win medals. "How will people be encouraged to take up sports if no one even comes to check on an athlete who has won two gold medals for the country? We are not wealthy and do not have any land. It is difficult to get good medical care," said Bhattal's wife.

In 1981, Hakam Singh’s career in athletics was cut short after meeting with a serious accident. But the determined man did not give up on his dream of taking the sports in India to newer heights. Hakam Singh Bhattal turned into a coach for young athletes. In 2003, Punjab Police hired him as an athletic coach in the department. In 2014, he retired after serving as a constable. Among the many feats, winning Dhyan Chand Award in 2009 remains the most memorable.

With the state government turning a blind eye to Hakam Singh’s degrading health conditions, we request Sports Minister of India Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to come to his aid. Rathore who has promised to change the face of sports in India should help the former athlete who had brought the country accolades in the past. We wish Hakam Singh Bhattal a speedy recovery.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 30, 2018 05:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).