PANAJI: Thirteen-year-old Rueisha Kharsel, a Class IX student of St Anthony’s high school, Guirim, died on the ground after being struck by a hockey ball during school training on Thursday.It was the last day of school before summer vacations kicked off and the students were keen to continue with their training sessions in preparation for next academic year’s competitions. The training started with plenty of enthusiasm, but the mood turned sombre after the ball hit Rueisha’s head and she collapsed.“They were practicing like any normal day and the incident happened during school hours,” principal Fr Milchester Furtado told TOI. “The ball hit her head. She was rushed to the hospital without any delay.”According to sources, when Rueisha collapsed on the ground, officials first called for an ambulance. They were, however, told that it might take some time for the ambulance to reach the school campus, prompting them to rush her to the hospital in a private vehicle.Police later said they received a call from the district hospital reporting the girl’s death. “She was declared brought dead. A case of unnatural death has been registered,” said police, adding that the postmortem report is expected on Friday.Rueisha took to the sport two years ago, inspired by the exploits of her brother Suraj, who captained Goa at the sub-junior national championship last month in Rajgir, Bihar.Goa finished second among eight teams in division C. It was performances like these at the nationals that strengthened the girl’s resolve to become a hockey player.“She always used my hockey stick,” said Suraj, left to console his grieving mother at home in Guirim while other family members were completing the formalities to take over the body at the hospital. “My mother received a call while she was at work. I heard of the death only after she reached home. I was numbed. I think there were just about ten minutes left for the session to end.”Suraj, 15, has represented Goa four times at national championships. He also studied at St Anthony’s and passed his Class X exams last month. Like Rueisha, he too has trained on the same ground during and after school hours, while breaking into the state junior team.“I don’t know how the ball struck her and I am not even sure if she was conscious when she fell down,” said Suraj.At their rented house in Agni wado, Guirim, teammates and teary-eyed friends from school turned up for a last look. Rueisha’s mother works as a maid, while her father is employed at a local store.“Sorry, Rueisha, I could not do anything for you,” said an inconsolable mother. “Am I a bad mother, Rueisha? Why did you leave me? Please come back. I will allow you to do whatever you want.”
