Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
New Delhi: The 5th AFC Medical Conference New Delhi 2015 which will be attended by between 800 and 1,000 delegates from around the world was officially launched on Saturday.
India will be the fourth country to host the prestigious conference after Malaysia (2000 and 2011), Japan (1995) and Oman (2005).
All India Football Federation Senior Vice President Subrata Dutta and Chairman of the AFC Medical Committee Dato’ Dr. Gurcharan Singh lit a traditional the lamp to signify the launch of the conference.
FIFA Regional Development Officer for South and Central Asia Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, Director General of the Sports Authority of India Jiji Thomson, Organising Secretary of the AFC Medical Conference Dr. PSM Chandran and a host of other dignitaries were also present during the occasion.
The launching ceremony took place almost a year before the conference, the first-of-its-kind in India which will be held from April 2 to 4 in New Delhi.
Dutta said it’s an honour for India to host the biggest sports medicine conference in Asia.
“It is indeed vibrant times for Indian football,” he said. “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 the right action is taken at the right time.
“We have the ISL (Indian Super League) 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.”
Dutta also stressed to the clubs and their administrators on the need to understand the importance of medical science in today’s modern game.
“There is an immense scope of improvement in this area,” he said. “I-League clubs should include sports science for prevention of injury and recovery, which the clubs have been neglecting, with the exceptions of Bengaluru FC and Pune FC.”
“Bengaluru FC’s recent win in the I-League was victory for professionalism over traditionalism. They have the best medical team which travels with the squad.
“Three physiotherapists, one conditioning coach and a dietician always travel with them. Fewer injuries and a fit squad have as been the key to their success, not big names.”
Dato’ Dr. Gurcharan 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.”
Dato’ Dr. Gurcharan also stressed on advanced medical care backed with proper infrastructure. “With players playing around 50 to 60 matches a year advanced medical care with proper infrastructure is very much needed,” he said.
“You can have the best doctors with you but without proper infrastructure and process, you cannot proceed. FIFA ensures a pre-competition medical assessment is absolutely necessary.”
“Along with that, an automated external defibrillator (AED) should be available at all times and upon a cardiac arrest on the pitch, it’s mandatory the AED is reachable within three minutes. We have to keep in mind, with every minute the chance 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 and anti-doping workshop would also be conducted with the help of the New Delhi Anti Doping Laboratory.”
Dr. Prabhakaran called for support from the medical community for all I-League clubs, state associations and all stakeholders.
“FIFA always supports the use of modern medical technology,” he said. “All stake holders involved in football need to spread the message across the length and breadth of the country.”
Photo: AIFF