The Shani effect: Better medical facilities at athletics meet

On Thursday, another athlete, Haryana's Naveen Malik, slipped and hurt himself during the 3000m steeplechase event at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore.

On this occasion, however, the event managers were better prepared as within minutes duty doctors and an ambulance were present on the scene. Malik sustained a minor injury to the neck, but did not require elaborate medical assistance.

This seemed to be a direct consequence of Wednesday's sad incident when Kerala pole vaulter Shani Shaji was deprived of timely medical facilities after she broke her leg following a hard landing

Shaji was eventually taken to a nearby hospital in a private car where doctors diagnosed her with a fractured ankle.

Shani is on the road to recovery and will take 'three to four' months for complete recuperation, according to the doctors who treated her.

"We will be paying the entire medical expenses for her,” Chandrasekhar Rai, secretary of the Karnataka Amateur Athletics Association, was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

The sorry episode had led to Athletics Federation of India secretary CK Valson to direct event officials to not commence proceedings on Thursday and Friday until proper medical facilities were made available at the venue.