The excruciating pain comes in waves, reaching a peak and ebbing. Amidst the haze of pain of the contractions, until the joy of holding the newborn, how many women yearn for a tender touch on the brow, a whispered word of consolation in the ear and a hand to grip while pushing down hard during birthing.

It takes years of hard work and determination for a sportsperson to take the long run up to the international arena, but it takes only a few seconds for that dream to come crashing down. Over the years injuries have shaken the world of sports, from rookies to stars – they have twisted their ankles or torn a ligament. While the stars can afford to spend their way out of injuries, the rookies are often not that lucky.