Dipa Karmakar will compete in the Final on 14 August. (Source: AP) Dipa Karmakar will compete in the Final on 14 August. (Source: AP)

Dipa Karmakar had asked a Sports Authority of India (SAI) official to allow her longtime physio Sajad Ahmad to travel with her to Rio 2016 Olympics but her requested was deemed ‘wasteful’ it has been learnt. But now that she has qualified for the Final, Ahmad has been rushed to the South American city to keep her in optimum shape in order to help India land its first medal in gymnastics at the Olympics.

The officials had questioned her, “You’re going alone, why do you need a physio,” upon the request, reveals the family of the gymnast. But now that she’s qualified, her requests are being adhered to. “Now that Dipa is proving to be India’s best shot, they’re hurrying to give her what she needs,” the family member added.

Early reports had said SAI had approved the request for a physio and Ahmad was only being rushed now because Dipa had suffered an injury.

After her qualifying round, Sports Minister Vijay Goel who is in Rio de Janeiro had asked her what she needed and Dipa had simply replied ‘my coach’ and that request has been listened to. It must be noted that requests for physios for other contingent members was also refused.

Karmakar will compete in the Final on August 14 after she had become the first Indian gymnast to qualify for the latter stages of the sport at an Olympics. She had earlier become the first Indian woman to qualify for the Olympics too and could go after yet another glory on the day of India’s independence.

Before she left for #Rio2016 , officials told Dipa Karmakar, ‘You’re going alone, why do you need a physio’, says her family @IndianExpress — Aniruddha Ghosal (@aniruddhg1) 11 August 2016

“Now that Dipa (Karmakar) is proving to be India’s best shot, they’re hurrying to give her what she needs,” said her family @IndianExpress — Aniruddha Ghosal (@aniruddhg1) 11 August 2016

Dipa Karmakar’s family maintained that although they had requested for a physio, a SAI official said it might be “wasteful” @IndianExpress — Aniruddha Ghosal (@aniruddhg1) 11 August 2016

Sports minister Vijay Goel asked Dipa Karmakar what she needed, she replied, ‘my physio’ & Sajad Ahmad was rushed to #Rio2016 @IndianExpress — Aniruddha Ghosal (@aniruddhg1) 11 August 2016

Meanwhile misreporting by some media channels that Dipa’s ‘injury’ had led to the move almost broke Agartala’s heart. @IndianExpress — Aniruddha Ghosal (@aniruddhg1) 11 August 2016

Karmakar had so far been attended to by the physio attached to the entire Indian contingent at Rio 2016 Olympics.

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