P T Usha disappointed by allegations despite best efforts for athletes
New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha emphasised the pivotal role of collaboration between the sports ministry, IOA, and national federations in ensuring optimal support for athletes heading to the Paris Olympics, slated to commence on July 26. Usha lauded what she termed as "unprecedented teamwork," which facilitated athletes in selecting their preferred support staff, including coaches, mental trainers, and physiotherapists. This year, a notable increase saw 117 athletes being accompanied by 140 support personnel, a significant enhancement from previous ratios.
Reflecting on the strategic shift in focus, Usha highlighted the effort to achieve a more balanced ratio of athletes to support staff, aiming for slightly better than a 1:1 ratio. Specifically, she noted that 68 coaches and 50 support staff members would accompany the contingent of 117 athletes. Despite these efforts, Usha expressed disappointment over negative portrayals in some reports, undermining the collaborative efforts made by all stakeholders.
The IOA has also formed a specialised 13-member Sports Science team under the guidance of renowned sports medicine expert Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, enhancing the technical and medical support available to athletes during the Games. Usha reiterated the commitment to prioritising athletes' needs, striving to mitigate any operational challenges ahead of the competition.
However, amidst the comprehensive support arrangements, issues surfaced regarding visa delays for certain non-accredited support staff members, notably affecting wrestler Antim Panghal and her accompanying personnel. Usha acknowledged these challenges and assured expedited resolution, particularly highlighting efforts to secure visas for Antim's coach, physiotherapist, and sparring partner, whose names were initially omitted from the submitted lists.
Usha attributed these omissions to decisions made by the now-disbanded ad-hoc committee overseeing wrestling, which had failed to include these essential personnel in the initial submissions to the Olympic Games Organizing Committee. She emphasised corrective actions taken after intervention from Antim's family, ensuring that all necessary staff were duly cleared by the Ministry of Sports.
In response, Antim Panghal expressed gratitude to PT Usha and Shiva Keshavan, another senior IOA official, for their swift action and advocacy on her behalf with the French Consulate to resolve the visa issues promptly. She expressed humility and thanked the IOA leadership for their understanding and support during a crucial phase of her Olympic preparations.
Looking forward, Usha affirmed IOA's readiness to address any further logistical challenges and maintain proactive communication with all stakeholders to ensure a seamless and supportive environment for Indian athletes at the Paris Olympics. PTI