22-year-old national hockey player ends own life

A national-level hockey player, Vivek Pandey, ended his life in Manjalpur in Vadodra on Sunday afternoon. The deceased player's body was found at his friend's house after his father was unable to track him down and approached the police. The 22-year-old had been missing after he left the Manjalpur Sports Complex on Sunday morning after training. He had informed the players in the academy that he would be visiting his friend, who stayed in Pandit Deendayal Awas near Jupiter crossings.

However, that was the last that anyone heard from him. His father Subhash, who was in Maneja for Diwali, called Pandey several times but after they went unanswered, he approached his son's coach at the Manjalpur sports complex where he learnt that Pandey had left the academy early to go to his friend's house.

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On reaching there, Subhash was left perplexed when no one answered the door, following which he got help from the police. The cops eventually broke open the door and found Pandey's body hanging from the fan with a bedsheet. His wrists were slit as well.

There is no confirmation yet on why Pandey took the extreme step. The student of Arts in MSU, Pandey lived in room 22 of the Manjalpur Sports Complex. He has been playing the sport for the last 12 years, but was bogged down by frequent backaches in the recent past. He played for the university team and had recently turned out in an event in Gwalior.

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According to reports, Pandey had last spoken to his mother on Saturday evening and complained about yet another bout of severe back pain. The Makarpura police is investigating the matter further, and have sent the body for postmortem. A case of accidental death has also been registered.