NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Don't Indian sportsmen need docs?

Norris Pritam

The ongoing tussle between the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Olympic Association has resurfaced at Kuala Lumpur where the 16th Commonwealth Games were in progress. The bone of contention this time was the clearance of a doctor for the 114-strong Indian contingent.

The absence of a doctor at the venues where Indians are taking part is so glaring that even India's rivals have taken notice.

Two days ago, Indian woman hockey player Manjinder Kaur hurt her cheek bone. But there was no medical aid available at the Indian camp. The organisers, of course, look after the medical needs of the players both in the arena and at the Games village. But still, most teams had a doctor along. The Indians didn't.

S M Bali, the chef-de-mission of the Indian contingent, was furious with the department of sports for not sending a team doctor.

According to him, Manjinder was taken to a private hospital where it was learnt that her cheekbone had been fractured.

"We can only take her to the hospital. But only a personal doctor could decide whether she should and play the next match or not,'' he added. "We made several requests for a doctor, but he wasn't cleared. It is a shame that Indian players have to consult other team doctors in the village,'' a dejected Bali said.

Badminton star Madhumita Bisht has suffered blisters on her feet because using new shoes in the opening march past. But there was no medical attention for in the village.

There is no physiotherapist also with the Indian team. According to Bali, the sports ministry had assured the secretary of the All India Women's Hockey Federation Amrit Bose in Delhi that Dr Rajeev Ahuja of the SAI and a physiotherapist would be sent along with the Indian contingent.

But they were dropped at the last moment and Indian Olympic Association was not informed.