The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) medical team, led by celebrated orthopaedic surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, has been operating round the clock at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to keep India's contingent healthy, injury-free and competition-ready since the squad arrived in Scotland. While athletes chase medals on the field, this behind-the-scenes unit is quietly shaping India's overall campaign.

The Medical Unit Behind the Medals

Alongside Dr Pardiwala, the IOA's medical setup includes physiotherapists Sumansh Sivalanka, Chris Pedra, and Debashish Das, who have been embedded with athletes from the pre-Games training phase itself. Their remit covers physiotherapy, injury management, rehabilitation, and recovery support throughout the multi-day event.

'It is a wonderful journey as my team comprising Sumansh Sivalanka, Chris Pedra and Debashish Das are working with the athletes even before the Games began. For me, personally, it is reassuring when team managers come and tell me our presence is reassuring and adds value,' Dr Pardiwala said.

A Logistical Challenge Unlike Previous Games

Unlike most major multi-sport events, Glasgow 2026 does not feature a central Athletes' Village. India's contingent is spread across three different hotels, creating a logistical complexity that the IOA has addressed by establishing its primary treatment centre at the Mercure Hotel while deploying medical personnel at all accommodation sites. This ensures athletes have access to immediate medical attention at any hour.

Notably, this decentralised model is a departure from the centralised medical setups at past Commonwealth Games, and the IOA's ability to adapt speaks to the growing professionalisation of Indian sports administration.

Filling the Gaps for Smaller Contingents

The IOA medical team also serves as a crucial safety net for disciplines that do not travel with dedicated medical staff. While larger squads such as athletics bring their own doctors and physiotherapists, teams in swimming and gymnastics, among others, rely entirely on the IOA's central unit for treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery during the Games.

This gap-filling role is significant: in a contingent spanning multiple sports and disciplines, uniform access to quality medical care can be the difference between an athlete competing through discomfort and one forced to withdraw.

The Human Side of Elite Sport

Dr Pardiwala reflected on what drives the support staff. 'To see the smile on the faces of athletes is a joy, for they have had a hard day at work,' he said. The IOA has underlined that modern elite sport extends well beyond training and competition — recovery protocols, physiotherapy, and sports science now play an equally critical role in sustaining peak performance across a multi-day schedule.

India's Athlete-First Approach

Behind every Indian athlete at Glasgow 2026 stands a wider ecosystem of coaches, doctors, physiotherapists, nutrition experts, team managers, and logistics staff, all aligned to a single objective: allowing athletes to focus solely on performance. As India's Commonwealth Games campaign gathers momentum, the IOA's comprehensive medical support framework is expected to remain a key pillar of the contingent's overall effort.