New Delhi, July 17: Indian Olympic Association President Dr PT Usha thanked the Ministry
of Youth Affairs and Sports for clearing the 117 athletes and 140 support staff contingent for
the Paris 2024 Olympic Games beginning on July 26.
“At IOA, we have embarked on an era when athletes are at the centre of our planning and
preparations. You can see this from the fact that instead of the usual 3:1 ratio between athletes
and support staff, we have worked hard to change it to slightly better than 1:1 ratio,” she said,
pointing out that for the 117 athletes, India would send 68 coaches and 50 support staff.
“Besides for the first time, a 13-member Sports Science team under Chief Medical Officer Dr.
Dinshaw Pardiwala will be at hand in Paris to provide support to the team physiotherapists,
psychologists and others,” Dr. Usha said, adding that IOA has established a recovery centre for
Indian athletes in the Athletes’ Village.
The IOA President said it was disappointing that some reports painted a negative picture of her
team’s efforts. Together with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and its units, the National
Sports Federations and a good bunch of corporate partners, IOA had forged unprecedented
teamwork. “It is shocking that some have turned a blind eye to such synergy,” she said.
Dr. Usha said she would ensure that there are no delays for any of the athletes non-accredited
support staff in getting their visas. She said she would take up the case of wrestler Antim
Panghal’s coach Bhagat Singh, physiotherapist Heera and sparring partner Vikas with the
Embassy of France in India.
“Antim won India a quota as early as in September 2023 by claiming a bronze medal in the
World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade. In its wisdom the Ad Hoc Committee
administering wrestling chose not to include the names of Antim’s coach or physiotherapist in
the long list of names sent to the Olympic Games Organising Committee,” she said.
“It is strange that the responsible authorities, who approved the long list of athletes, coaching
and support staff, did not deem it fit to recommend the inclusion of Bhagat Singh or Heera or
Vikas. It was only after Antim’s father came to IOA a few days ago that I stepped in to have
them cleared by the Ministry,” Dr. Usha said.
“Many athletes will vouch that IOA has been proactive in getting their coaches and support
personnel accreditations or visas from the Embassy of France in India. The Embassy in Delhi
and its consulates elsewhere have extended the greatest support in processing visa requests not
only from such personnel but also from journalists who do not have accreditation,” she said.
“We are confident that despite such misleading reports, IOA will be able to facilitate a speedy
processing of visa requests of those coaches and support staff cleared by the Ministry,” Dr.
Usha said. “I will continue to strive to put my best foot forward when it comes to ensuring the
best possible support for each and every athlete in our contingent.”
Dr. Usha said she wished such members of the media who base their reports on inadequate
information would spend some understanding how hard the IOA had worked to ensure that all
personal coaches and mentors, physiotherapists and psychologists were included in the
contingent.
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