India hockey stalwart MM Somaya is still trying to come to terms with the losses he suffered in a burglary at his Bengaluru home in the early hours of October 28. However, it is not so much the cash and jewellery that two thieves made away with, but the four medals — including the prestigious 1980 Moscow Olympic gold — that they also stole, which hurts him the most.

“I had kept my four medals [1980 Moscow Olympic gold, 1982 New Delhi Asian Games silver, 1986 Seoul Asian Games bronze, and 1982 Amsterdam Champions Trophy bronze] in a locked drawer in my room. While the thieves took away R30,000 in cash and some jewellery — thankfully, the loss was not substantial as we keep most of our jewellery in a bank locker — I still wonder why they thought of breaking open that drawer and taking the medals. More than the loss of cash and jewellery, it’s the loss of that Olympic gold medal that makes me very sad,” Somaya, 67, told mid-day over the phone from Bengaluru on Wednesday.