An Indian football player died after collapsing on the field during a local league game in the southern city of Bangalore.
D. Venkatesh, a 27-year-old midfielder for Bangalore Mars, went on as substitute in the 73rd minute and collapsed toward the end of the Bangalore District Football Association A Division match against the South Western Railway club.
Domestic media reported Thursday that there was no ambulance available and Venkatesh was taken to the Hosmat Hospital on Wednesday in a three-wheel auto-rickshaw.
Preliminary post-mortem reports suggested cardiac arrest was the cause of death.
The Times of India newspaper quoted Dr. Ajith Benedict Royan of Hosmat Hospital as saying there were no external injuries and attributing the cause to ''Sudden Death Syndrome''
''Maybe if he had been given oxygen or proper medical care at the time of the incident, he could have stood a chance,'' the newspaper quoted Royan as saying.
The incident came only days after Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed during an English FA Cup match against Tottenham after suffering from cardiac arrest. He was taken to London Chest Hospital and remains in intensive care.
The All India Football Federation issued a statement confirming Venkatesh, a former junior state-level representative, had collapsed near the end of the match.
''The AIFF prays for his departed soul,'' the statement said. ''May he rest in peace.''
