SHOCKING! No female physiotherapist for India's Rio-bound women wrestlers

Vinesh's cousin Babita and Sakshi Malik are part of the Indian women's team for Rio.

New Delhi: In a strange move by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), provision for just one physio was made for India's Rio-bound male and female wrestlers.

According to a report in the Times of India, all of India's eight wrestlers - 5 men and 3 women - will be taken care of by Brajesh Kumar.

At the moment, three physios are present at Indian contingent's training sessions. Kumar and Dhirendra Pratap are the physio's for the men's team, while Rucha Kashalkar looks after the women.

"We girls would be more comfortable having a female physiotherapist with us in Rio. The current physio -Rucha -has been with us for a significant period of time and the best part is that she devotes all her time to the women wrestlers. In a tournament of the stature of Olympics, it's important that the women wrestlers have a dedicated physio for them," Vinesh Phogat told the newspaper.

Vinesh, her cousin Babita Kumari and Sakshi Malik are part of the Indian women's team for Rio. Never before have three women wrestlers represented India at the Olympics.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has now written to SAI and Union sports ministry for a female physiotherapist for the team.

“A separate physio is always dedicated to the women's wrestling team for various other tournaments we go to. Considering the significance of Olympics, the women's team having its own physio is essential,'' said Kuldeep Malik, the national women's wrestling coach.

So far there has been no communication from SAI and the sports ministry.