Ace hockey drag flicker Sandeep Singh, who was injured in "accidental" fire from a policeman's gun while travelling by train, has been discharged from the Intensive Care Unit of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.

Doctors described his condition as "much better", but refused to say how soon he would be able to start playing again.

Sitting in a separate chamber in a private ward of the hospital, the 21-year-old Sandeep looked cheerful, as his elder brother, Bikramjit Singh, helped him do some exercises under strict security.

Relatives from Shahabad in Haryana (Sandeep's hometown) and the United States dropped in to visit the player.

"Today, Sandeep's condition is much better. He is also watching television," PGI's Department of Surgery head, Dr J D Wig said.

Sandeep's father, Gurcharan Singh, appeared cheerful.

Dr Wig is hopeful of Sandeep's early recovery, but unsure about how long it will take for him to return to the game.

"I cannot say for sure how long it will take him to wield the hockey stick. We have to be very careful, but he is responding well to the treatment," Dr Wig, who is closely monitoring Sandeep's progress, said.

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