Hockey India on Wednesday congratulated Col (Dr.) Bibhu Kalyan Nayak, an expert in Sports Traumatology and Sports and Exercise Physiology, for being named as the FIH Medical Officer for the prestigious Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 to be held from 28 November 2018 to 16 December 2018 at the iconic Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha
A native of Bhubaneswar, Col (Dr.) Nayak who has extensively trained in Sports Traumatology & Sports & Exercise Physiology from National Institute of Sports Medicine at Havana, Cuba & National Sports Centre at Madrid, Spain, is the first Indian to be named by FIH as the Medical Officer for a World Cup. He was commissioned in the Army Medical Corps of Indian Army in 1995 and has worked in the Army Sports Institute, Pune for six years and has worked with elite athletes of the country.
It was his unfulfilled dream of representing India as a sportsperson that drove him to work with athletes closely and eventually don the India colours as the national team doctor in various disciplines. Col (Dr.) Nayak said, “It was always my childhood dream to represent India in sports but pressure from family to excel in studies derailed that dream. However, my unwavering passion for sports enabled me to take up the role of team doctor and eventually wear the India colours. I always wanted to wear the Services uniform too so this was the best way possible to live my dreams.”
His first International stint as the team doctor was in 2007 when he took up the role with Indian Youth Boxing Team for a span of two years. He began working with the Indian National Hockey Team since 2009, having accompanied the team to events such as Sultan Azlan Shah Shah Cup in 2009 and 2010, XIX Commonwealth Games 2010, XVI Asian Games 2010, Men’s Hockey World Cup New Delhi 2010 and Asian Champions Trophy, Doha Qatar in 2012. He has been the Team Doctor at 2012 London Olympic Games where our Country has won maximum number of Medals i.e. six (6) in any Olympic Games till date. He was also the Chief Team Physician of Indian Contingent Rio 2016 Paralympic Games where India won a maximum of four medals in any Paralympic Games till date.
On being named the FIH Medical Officer for the forthcoming Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018, Col (Dr.) BK Nayak said, “I am extremely honoured that FIH has even considered an Indian doctor for the role of a Medical Officer for the prestigious World event. The feeling of pride is yet to sink in but at the same time I understand it is a huge responsibility. I am confident of doing justice to the role – backed with my experience of working with elite athletes over the last two decades as well as closely working with the Indian hockey team.”
