Vinesh Phogat responds to a media report, “Is it a crime to ask for one physiotherapist?”

Vinesh Phogat, India’s star wrestler, expressed her dissatisfaction, saying that her physiotherapist, Poornima R Ngomdir, has yet to receive Olympic Games-specific certification despite having requested a physiotherapist to accompany her and other women wrestlers to Tokyo “long back”.

The organisers in Tokyo have been strict and not accepting accreditation requests if the name does not appear on the list, which is generating issues with receiving an accreditation.

The IOA, on the other hand, claims that her physio’s name was not even on the Federation’s long list. According to the guidelines, depending on the number of eligible athletes, up to 33% of support personnel is permitted. Seven wrestlers qualified from India so 3 staff allowed.

In response to a media report, Phogat asked if it’s a crime to request for one physiotherapist for four women wrestlers participating at the Games.

“Is it a crime to ask for one Physiotherapist for four women wrestlers when there are instances of one athlete having multiple coaches/ Staff?” Phogat tweeted on Thursday. “Where is the balance? We have asked for a Physio long back and not at the last moment”.

Vinesh has been in great form in the run up to the Games. She has won gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 Asian Games.

She also won the yellow metal at the Asian Championships in Almaty in the run up to the Olympics.

(For more updates stay tuned with DNP India)