The Hindu : New Delhi News : Obsessive concern for "Men in Blue''

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Obsessive concern for "Men in Blue''

It's our passion, even an obsession, and only a precious few form part of this "sacred circle" that is the Indian cricket team. On a visit to the Capital recently was one such "insider" who ensures that our "Men in Blue'' remain fighting fit. Anant Joshi, president of the Indian Arthroscopy Society, was here for an annual conference that offered doctors in this specialised field hands-on training on cadaveric arthroscopic.

Having worked in the area of arthroscopy and sports medicine and remaining in close touch with the Indian cricket team, Dr. Joshi had this to say about the Little Master after his elbow surgery. "Sachin Tendulkar is a great player and he has many years of cricket left in him. But we have to understand that there is an injury and he isn't growing any younger. His injury should be looked at in totality and not as an isolated part of the entire game. No matter how great a player, he has to go through the same medical fitness regime that every player in the team is cleared through. Obviously we have to understand that he will not play with an injury no matter how great the need or even the desire.''

Dr. Joshi also indulged in a bit of media bashing for the constant vigil it keeps on the medical status of injured players. "Indian media has this tendency to blow every little injury out of proportion and there is virtually a 24-hour minute-by-minute account of how the injury is healing or otherwise. These are sportsmen that we are talking about. They exert their bodies constantly and injuries are part of the game. We should give them time to heal and allow them to play their game.''-- Bindu Shajan Perappadan

-- Bindu Shajan Perappadan

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