Paris Olympics: To house coaches of PV Sindhu and Vinesh Phogat, masseur booted out of Village

Vinayak Padmadeo

New Delhi, July 16

Despite several assurances that they work for all athletes, the Sports Ministry and other stakeholders only cater to the needs of big stars. Once again, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has been forced to accommodate personal coaches and support staff.

Vijay Kamboj, who is a masseur with the boxing team, will lose his place in the Paris Olympics Games Village to accommodate PV Sindhu’s mentor and badminton great Prakash Padukone. After Padukone vacates the room, it will be allocated to Vinesh Phogat’s personal coach Woller Akos.

The decision to shift Kamboj was taken on Monday. It means that the masseur will have to be put up in a hotel and will have to travel daily to the Games Village or to the North Paris Arena, where the boxing competition would be held, to help out the athletes.

It is understood that the officials demanded this change to avoid a scenario where mega stars may embarrass the Ministry on social media. Vinesh has complained openly in the past, most recently at the Tokyo Olympics, where she claimed that the absence of her physiotherapist was one of the main reasons for her failing to win a medal.

“We have somehow made a system where stars’ demands are always met and we ignore other athletes. Prakash and the wrestling coach could have been housed outside and still could enter the Village through daily passes,” said a source.

“The masseur was needed with the team in the Village but like I said stars’ needs will always be prioritised even if it hurts others,” he added.

However, the masseur will be entitled to draw dearness as well as meal allowance from the government. Sports Authority of India officials, including TOPS CEO Commodore (retd) PK Garg, were unavailable for comments

Archery staff on the way

Meanwhile, after a week of uncertainty, the support staff for the Indian archers, including a coach, physiotherapist and psychologist, is set to join the team. The archery team comprising Deepika Kumari, Bhajan Kaur, Ankita Bhagat, Tarundeep Rai, Pravin Jadhav and Dhiraj Bommadevara is currently training in France. Only two coaches, Poornina Mahto and foreign coach Woongki Baek, have been with the team since July 10.

Team coach Sonam and physiotherapist Arvind Yadav are scheduled to leave for the team’s training base tonight, while the psychologist is likely to reach in a couple of days’ time. However, it is not clear which amongst the three coaches will be housed inside the Games Village as the contingent has been told only two coaches will be allowed for the team of six archers. The others will have to be housed in a hotel.