AFI Sets New Norms for Private Training Centres, Targets Medals at Major Events

India's track and field athletes are preparing for the season at various private and government-run centres as per Athletics Federation of India (AFI)'s ambitious plan to give them the freedom to train at centres of their choice.

- Avishek Roy

NEW DELHI: AFI has also done away with long-duration camps except for relay teams.

The idea is to create an open and competitive environment and broaden the talent pool. Senior AFI officials feel the plan to decentralise training is showing results, as is evident from performance at the Asian Championships in Gumi, South Korea, where Indian athletes scooped 24 medals, finishing second in the medal tally behind China. However, AFI is also facing some teething troubles in monitoring the athletes and has decided to put in place a mechanism to deal with that.

In a meeting with various stakeholders, including government and private entities, AFI set several guidelines that these training centres will have to follow. The federation has already issued directions to athletes to get their training and competition programme cleared by them in case they want to head overseas.

AFI said there is a growing trend of athletes choosing to train and compete abroad with funding and support from Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and institutes like Reliance and JSW, who run their own centres. But when it comes to major competitions, their performances have dipped.