New Delhi: India’s World Cup sojourn has began in the worst possible manner, with forwards Ramandeep Singh and Nikkin Thimmaiah being ruled out four days prior to the start of the tournament at the Hague in Holland. While Ramandeep suffered multiple fractures to his cheekbone after being hit during a practice game, Thimmaiah sustained a hamstring tear on Monday night.
What comes as a shock, however, is news that the team have travelled to this high-profile event without a doctor. This first came to wider attention when Ramandeep — who was hit on the face during a warm-up game — had to be attended by the doctor accompanying the Argentine team as there was no one to provide him even basic medical aid from the Indian dugout during the match.
This, in fact, isn’t the first time that India are facing such a problem. During the last year’s Asia Cup in Malaysia, skipper Sardar Singh went down with fever and was later hospitalised but his treatment was delayed due to the non-availability of a doctor.
Earlier, Dr B.K. Nayak of the Services was a regular member of the support staff, but has sometimes found it difficult to get permission from employers, the Indian Army. In fact, the national team’s month-long preparatory camp here was held sans a doctor, with physios taking up the duty when needed.
Hockey India, it is learnt, have asked high performance director Roelant Oltmans — a local — to arrange for medical aid in Holland. Said HI secretary general Narinder Batra when queried on the matter, “There are physios. If there is no full time doctor with the team, it does not mean the players are not being taken care of.” Pressed further, he said, “The team can always hire a local doctor.”
