Pune is set to witness a unique spectacle as more than 1500 doctor-players from across the country gather for the inaugural ‘Indian Doctors Olympics,’ organized by the Young Doctors League (YDL). The national competition, scheduled from November 30th to December 3rd, 2023, is a remarkable initiative to bring medical professionals together in the spirit of sportsmanship.
The Indian Doctors Olympics (IDL) will feature a diverse array of sports, including cricket, football, volleyball, throw-ball, badminton, tennis, athletics, carom, chess, table-tennis, and lawn-tennis. The tournament venues include prominent locations such as Sri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex-Balewadi, PYC Hindu Gymkhana, Deccan Gymkhana Club, Vision Cricket Academy-Singhgarh Road, Scaleup Academy Maidan-Warje, DSK Star Cricket Academy-Dhairi, and Shinde High School-Sahkarnagar.
The opening ceremony, scheduled for Friday, December 1, at 11 am at Sri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex-Balewadi, will be inaugurated by MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde. The event will be graced by dignitaries such as Dr. Vishwajit Kadam, MLA and President of Pune District Football Association, Nikhil Kanetkar, badminton player and Olympian, Sandeep Kirtane, national tennis player, and Pune Mayor Muralidhar Mohol, along with Dr. Bhushan Mangaonkar and Parag Deshmukh from the Serum Institute of India.
Dr. Nitin Gadkari and Dr. Sandeep Patil, members of the Coordination Committee, highlighted the diverse participation of doctors, including MBBS, BAMS, BUMS, and BDS professionals. The sports categories encompass both male and female participants, with 40 men’s cricket teams and 5 women’s teams from Pune alone. Football, volleyball, and throw-ball events also see enthusiastic participation from doctors across Maharashtra.
The ‘Indian Doctors Olympics’ has garnered widespread sponsorship and support, with Serum Institute of India-Pune leading as the primary sponsor. Co-sponsors include Assure Clinic, Ruby Hall Clinic, Krisala, Walnut School, Ranade Realtors, Bajaj Finance, Health Accurate Diagnostics, Noble Hospitals, and Research Center.
