Athletics Federation of India to restructure home competitors

Sumariwalla mentioned there’s a plan to have at the very least 30 home competitions from subsequent season
| Picture Credit score: FILE PHOTO

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has plans to restructure the home competitors and qualification system for main worldwide occasions from the brand new (2025) season, AFI president Adille Sumariwalla mentioned at a press convention right here on Wednesday.

“To qualify for main worldwide occasions the athletes should compete in a sure variety of home competitions to earn priceless factors,” Sumariwalla mentioned.

The 2025 Asian Athletics Championships and World Athletics Championships are two main occasions subsequent yr. The AFI president mentioned athletes, after qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Video games, weren’t in a position to maintain their efficiency. “There was a sudden decline within the efficiency in Paris. The athletes ought to have clocked a private greatest or superior to the ultimate of their respective occasions,” he mentioned.

Sumariwalla mentioned emphasis shall be on regional competitions from the subsequent calendar yr. “The athletes will get extra alternative to compete near their properties. There’s a plan to have at the very least 30 home competitions from subsequent season.”

Attributable to decentralisation of the nationwide camps, Sumariwalla mentioned there shall be no nationwide preparatory camps forward of worldwide meets. “The athletes will practice at regional centres and locations of their selection,” he mentioned.

Lalit Bhanot, president of South Asian Athletics Federation, mentioned SAAF has plans to conduct the South Asian senior meet in Ranchi in October and a cross nation occasion in Pakistan. “As for the cross nation, the dates shall be recognized later as a result of Pakistan has steered some dates which now we have requested for some modification,” he mentioned.

Bhanot admitted that the South Asian junior meets haven’t been held in an everyday method, and mentioned he has plans to streamline it. “We are actually attempting to streamline it that it is going to be held if not yearly, at the very least each alternate yr.”