Kasturba Hospital gets new sports science laboratory

New sports science laboratory at swine flu-treating hospital is a boost

Kasturba Hospital gets new sports science laboratory

New sports science laboratory at swine flu-treating hospital is a boost

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It is a place which evokes visions of swine flu masks rather than Olympic medals, but, today, Kasturba Hospital houses a sports science laboratory within its premises. This rather unlikely address has joined in the burgeoning effort of producing Indian sports champions that can climb the international podium with greater consistency.

The sports science laboratory called Exercise Science Laboratory and Rehabilit-ation Centre opened in June this year, within the premises of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) run hospital it is a private venture.

u00a0Says Dr Nikhil Latey, director, Sports Science Unit, who heads the laboratory, "We work as an adjunct to the athlete's regular training. Our specific tests help highlight the athletes' strengths and weaknesses on the basis of which, we then work out a special program for them. This is called sport-specific testing and prescription for elite athletes."

Dr Prakkash Sharoff, also part of the elite sports testing lab adds, "We also have provisions to assess amateur athletes and fitness enthusiasts on their problem areas and help them improve. We treat laypersons with a number of lifestyle-related orthopaedic problems."

The lab has a full-fledged physiotherapy unit that helps athletes with injury recovery.

Though these are early days yet, word is getting around about the centre.

Recently, Sanjay Kolte, a boxer from former hockey international Viren Rasquinha's Gold Quest programme was at the lab for testing and assessment. Junior badminton champion, Aditya Prakash from legendary Prakash Padukone's badminton academy in Bangalore had also come in for analysis and assessment. The centre, is also witnessing a clutch of amateur runners traipsing in for assessment and advice on how to improve timing and performanceu00a0 as the Mumbai marathon nears (January 17, 2010). The lab, which is looking for a full-time donor, has earmarked up to Rs 14 lakh this year for more equipment.

The staff explains, "Our job is not to spot talent but simply to assess athletes sent to us. We can help them better their performance by upping their physical fitness and concentrating on the skills specific to their sport."
Both Dr Latey and Sharoff dream about the day this nascent venture finds final fruition, in the strains of the national anthem at an Olympics venue as Indian athletes find their place in the sporting sun.

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