Tennis duo Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will have added responsibility to return with an Olympic medal from Beijing, especially after the Indian Olympic Association accommodated extra support staff for them, a favour that eluded boxer Akhil Kumar.
IOA President Suresh Kalmadi on Friday revealed that the four-member Indian tennis contingent would be accompanied by a seven-member support staff to Beijing. Asked how could the support staff outnumber the players, Kalmadi said IOA accommodated extra personnel after request from Paes and Bhupathi.
"Leander wanted a coach and a trainer, while Mahesh wanted an additional doctor for his back problem. Besides, Sania wanted two to accompany her," Kalmadi told reporters during a send-off ceremony in the capital.
Incidentally, Akhil was denied the same luxury and the boxer was surprised to know that his South African trainer Heath Matthews, who have been monitoring his rehabilitation following a wrist surgery, was not part of the contingent.
"I did not know that he is not going with us. Not only me, he knows each member of the boxing contingent and I was under the impression that he is going with us. He would have been a great help for all of us," Akhil said.
Kalmadi, meanwhile, sought to downplay the episode and said he was ready to listen to every athlete's requirements.
"We are ready to consider any request and if needed, we would accommodate an additional physio too," he said.
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