An unfamiliar south Indian with a strong Australian accent has been enquiring politely and taking notes on strained groins and aching backs at Hyderabad’s Gacchibowli Stadium. He’s Ravi Kanakamedala, physiotherapist for the Indian hockey team, helping optimise fitness levels of the 31 youngsters training for December’s Champions Trophy tournament. There have been physiotherapists in Indian hockey before, but never has one been appointed well ahead of a tournament. And better still, Kanakamedala could well be the first full-time fitness trainer for hockey stars donning India colours. “Physios have never been a regular feature,” admitted Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) Secretary K. Jyothikumaran. “But we’re hoping to now keep one on a regular basis.” Kanakamedala (28), originally from Vishakhapatnam, got his degree in sports physiotherapy from Auckland, New Zealand. Then came an offer from the Tasmania Hockey Association, where he worked with some national stars too, including Mathew Welsh, Zain Wright and David Guesty. Ask him to rate the players on their fitness and he offers an unexpected “eight on 10”. Then he rates the Australians he’s worked with. “Eleven.” In fact, it was from Down Under that he landed this assignment. “I came in touch with hockey-loving people of Indian origin there,” he says, explaining how he got referred to the IHF. When the call came, he packed his bags immediately and landed in the capital (on September 19), reporting straightaway at the 15-day conditioning camp in Manesar, a heritage village barely 45 minutes from Delhi. “It was a huge pool initially,” he says. “ India senior and juniors combined.” The players have welcomed his professional approach to their little aches and pains. “It’s always good to have a good physio around,” said Viren Rasquinha. “Because hockey is a demanding sport and injuries are always around the corner.” The first thing Kanakamedala did when he joined the team was demand a mobile massage table. “It’s a must-have item for any team,” he stresses. Getting everything he wants—he’s using his own medical kit, has been provided no bandages, straps, etc—takes time, but his prime concern anyway is educating players, he says. “Not everybody realises that it’s better to come out with any injuries and have them scrutinised,” he says. “I won’t say players hide their injuries, but they live with it because they fear having to sit out.” All 31 campers are also undergoing strenuous fitness tests. “I’ve done five tests so far and am pretty satisfied with the results,” he says. The biggest challenge,though, is something else. With the campers hailing from Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Goa and every other corner of the country, the most taxing job has been “monitoring their diet”.
