The Indian Army might not have organized the Mission Olympics Win and Brig (Dr) Bibhu Nayak might not be in Paris today if India had not taken home just one medal from the Sydney Olympics. However, the same program that made sure Olympic medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore trained with the top instructors outside of India also took Brig (Dr) Nayak Sports full-time.

"Sports ka keeda hai," he exclaimed, beamingly remembering his early days of assisting sportsmen as one of a group of Army physicians. After receiving two training missions to Cuba, he was assigned to the Army Sports Institute and tasked with creating a curriculum on spots science. After discovering Indian boxing, he was invited to join the Indian hockey team in 2009, where he remained till 2014.

Recently, Brig (Dr) Nayak, the head of the National Centre for Sports Sciences and Research at the Sports Authority of India, joined the 13-person Indian Olympic Association medical team that would be traveling with the Indian delegation to Paris 2024.

The rehabilitation center inside the Olympic Village reserved for Indian competitors is overseen by the former head of the FIH for health and safety.

Dr. Nayak worked on the budget and finalization of the equipment for the recovery area, including the Game Ready cryo-compression and contrast treatment machines, cold baths, and sleep pods.