Swapna to undergo treatment for back, knee

Kolkata: Swapna Barman (in pic) will travel to Mumbai to find the right cure for her troubled knee and back. Swapna, who became India’s first heptathlete to win an Asian Games gold in Jakarta, has a lower-back problem and a Grade-3 meniscus tear in the knee. “I will go to Mumbai around September 24. There will be a series of tests to see whether I will have to go for a surgery or rehabilitation,” Swapna said. The young athlete, who has six toes on each foot, said her immediate focus is to recuperate from injuries and get back to training again. “I want to be fully fit before taking the field again. I have suffered a lot as an Asian Games gold was my target but now I have time to heal my recurring injury.” Coach Subhas Sarkar feels that 2020 Tokyo Olympics is not a realistic target for the 21-year-old and it would be wise to focus on defending her Asiad gold in 2022. — PTI