Tags:
Journalism of Courage
CHANDIGARH, NOV 12: 8220;Lack of sports medicine culture is the bane of modern day sports in India,8221; laments Dr Ravinder Chadha, the newly appointed physiotherapist of the Indian cricket team.
8220;To my surprise, despite all my efforts to trace sports medicine literature, no book seems to have been written,8221; feels Chadha, who takes over from Dr Ali Irani. Apart from being a qualified doctor, Chadha holds the national record for having led his state Haryana the most number of times 76 in Ranji Trophy. He was also a national selector for a full term and served as a co-ordinator with the Australian and West Indian teams. 8220;I suppose it will be another record of sorts, taking into account my different roles,8221; he said with a grin.
Chadha will take charge in the first Test against Sri Lanka at home in Chandigarh SAS Nagar on November 19.
8220;The working committee of the Board had already decided on my appointment some time back, hence this decision was a mere formality. I think the BCCI has given me a perfect role and I am looking forward to matching the expectations.8221; Chadha said.
And expectations will be aplenty. The Indian team is regarded as sluggish and unfit. Dr Irani was accused of giving false fitness reports. There was every reason behind holding back the truth, as a series missed cost a player 8220;several lakhs of rupees8221;. However, if Chadha is to be believed, things are not as bad as they are made out to be.8220;I contest the theory that Indian cricketers are not fit. It is just that we cannot achieve success fitness levels overnight. If the players show the will, I am sure we will raise our fitness levels to those of other teams. We don8217;t need foreign physical trainers for that, we rather need commitment from the players,8221; Chadha says.
When asked whether he will face some adjustment problems with the Indian team, Doc, as he is affectionately called, said, 8220;Not at all. In fact, I know most of the players since the days I was a selector. Of course, Ali Irani was with them for quite some time, but that should not be any hindrance in their accepting me.8221;
Chadha feels Javagal Srinath will be able to bowl at full potential, when he makes his comeback into the Indian team. 8220;I have no doubt that Srinath will recover completely after the rest and the rehabilitation. Though I haven8217;t met him after his injury, it injury was not that grave so as to hamper his bowling now. Give him a couple of big matches and his confidence will be soaring.8221;
According to Chadha, cricketers suffer major injuries on two counts. One, muscle wear-tear due to lack of stretching exercises and secondly, injuries on the throwing shoulder. 8220;Cricketers or for that matter any sportsperson must realise the importance of a good stretching workout, before exerting their muscles,8221; he said.
8220;I plan to chart out a different set of exercises for different players. One8217;s role in the team and his physical structure shall be its determinants. Gone are the days when fitness meant a couple of laps of the ground, five minutes of exercising and throwing a couple of balls. Modern day game is survival of the fittest. If you show slackness, there are several waiting in the wings to take over from you, 8221; he said.
