2 months ago
12
Vijay Kamboj, a masseur of the Indian boxing team, will now be put up in a hotel in Paris. Vijay will have to travel from the hotel to the Games Village or the North Paris Arena, the venue of the boxing competitions. read more
 "Report")
A masseur of the Indian boxing team has reportedly been forced out of the Paris Olympics Games Village in order to accommodate coaches of PV Sindhu and Vinesh Phogat. Image: AP / PTI
A fresh controversy has hit the Indian contingent ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics that starts from 26 July. According to a report in The Tribune, Vijay Kamboj, a masseur with the Indian boxing team, is set to be forced out of the Games Village in order to accommodate Prakash Padukone, PV Sindhu’s mentor, and Woller Akos, wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s personal coach.
This development comes amid assurances given by the Sports Ministry that equal support would be given to all athletes, which does not seem to be the case now. The report adds that Vijay Kamboj will now be put up in a hotel. Vijay will have to travel from the hotel to the Games Village or the North Paris Arena, the venue of the boxing competitions.
Paris Olympics Complete Coverage: Click here for news, schedule, explainers and more
According to the report, the decision was taken to ensure that the Sports Ministry do not face embarrassment from major Indian sportspersons on social media. During the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Vinesh Phogat had claimed that one of the reasons behind her failure to win a medal was due to the absence of her physiotherapist.
“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,” a source told The Tribune.
“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,” added the source. Despite the setback, the masseur will continue to receive dearness allowance and meal allowance from the government, the report stated.
India will send 117 athletes to the Paris Olympics, that includes seven reserves. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, India produced their best-ever medals haul at the Olympics with seven medals, including a gold medal from javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
English (US) ·