The Launching Ceremony of the 5th AFC Football Medical Conference took place in New Delhi on Saturday. All India Football Federation Senior Vice-President Subrata Dutta and Dato Gurcharan Singh, Chairman, AFC Medical Committee, lit the lamp to set the ball rolling.

Besides, Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, FIFA Regional Development Officer for South and Central Asia; Jiji Thomson, Director General, Sports Authority of India (SAI); Dr. PSM Chandran, Organising Secretary, AFC Medical Conference, 2015; and a host of other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

The Launching Ceremony took place almost a year before the Conference, the first-of-its-kind in India which would be held from April 2 to April 4, 2015 in the Capital. The Conference would be attended by around 800-1,000 delegates from across the World.

India would be the fourth Country to host the prestigious event with Malaysia (2000 & 2011), Japan (1995) and Oman (2005) having earlier hosted it.

Singh said it was “gratifying” to see Asian Football progressing in the field of Medical Science and that “Indian Football is not far behind.”

“The Medical Conference is a flagship event for AFC in the field of sports science and medicine and I firmly believe that India with its Development Programme, and the rate at which it is growing, is the right place to host it.”

He also underlined the fact that with the FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in India in 2017, “pre-Competition Medical Assessment is very much required with the latest technologies and practices.”

Dutta mentioned it’s an “honour for India to host the biggest Sports Medicine Conference of Asia.”

“It is indeed vibrant times for Indian Football. With the FIFA U-17 World Cup set to take place in three years time, the first-of-its kind AFC Medical Conference in India could not have come at a better time.”

“Success comes when right action is taken at the right time,” he further stated.

“We have the ISL which will kick-off in September. Medical Science covers talent scouting by genetic application, prevention of injury, recovery from stress, doping control and also performance enhancement, all of which are vital aspects of the game.”

FIFA Development Officer Dr. Prabhakaran also advocated medical assistance for all Airtel I-League Clubs, State Associations, and all stakeholders.

“FIFA always supports the use of modern medical technology,” he informed.

“All stake holders involved with Football need to spread the message across the length and breadth of the Country.”

Singh also stressed on advanced medical care backed with proper infrastructure. “With Players playing around 50-60 matches a year advanced medical care with proper infrastructure is very much needed.”

He added: “You can have the best Doctors with you but without proper infrastructure and process, you cannot proceed. FIFA ensures pre-Competition Medical Assessment is absolutely necessary.”

Along with that, AED’s should be available at all times and upon a Cardiac Arrest on the pitch, its mandatory the AEDs reach within three minutes. We have to keep in mind, with every minute the chances of survival goes down.”

“The AFC has plans to take the 5th Medical Conference to a greater level. It is not only about the name change which has been kept in tune with FIFA but subjects like Team physiotherapist Workshop, sports physiotherapists workshop, anti-doping workshop would also be conducted with the help of New Delhi Anti Doping Laboratory.”

Dutta also stressed on the importance of Indian Clubs and their administrators understanding the importance of Medical Science in the modern day game.

“There is immense scope of improvement in this area. I-League clubs should include sports science, for prevention of injury, recovery, which the Clubs have been neglecting, with the exceptions of Bengaluru FC and Pune FC.”

Waxing lyrical on just-crowned Airtel I-League Champions Bengaluru FC and their squad being the fittest, Dutta said: “Bengaluru FC’s win in the I-League was victory for professionalism over traditionalism.

“They have the best Medical Team which travels with the squad. They have tied up with H.E.A.L which provides them best injury management facilities. Three physiotherapists, one conditioning Coach, and a dietician always travel with them. fewer injuries and a fit squad has been the key to their success, not big names.”

(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)