The Athletics Federation of India has decided to popularise the Javelin Throw, 400m and Race Walk events by getting the District and State Athletics Associations to conduct these events at District and State levels.

AFI also discussed the promotion of running events to create awareness among youth at the District, State and National levels and attract sponsors. These suggestions were welcomed whole-heartedly and unanimously at the AFI annual general meeting in Gurugram on October 31 and November 1.

Among the key decisions made at the meeting were to motivate more candidates to take up the Coaches Education and Certification System conducted by the sport’s international governing body, World Athletics.

Mr. Adille J. Sumariwalla, Ms. Anju Bobby George, Mr. Ravinder Chaudhry and Mr. Madhu Kant Pathak were elected as President, Senior Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively for the term 2020-2024. 

Discussing the impact of Covid-19 on Athletics activities, AFI decided that State and Districts unites would immediately encourage their State and district administrations to resume competitions and other activities. The House approved the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the conduct of competitions.

AFI President Adille J. Sumariwalla nominated Olympians GS Randhawa and PT Usha as Chairpersons of the Senior Selection Committee and of the Junior and Youth Selection Committee respectively. These nominations were announced in the wake of the two-day meeting of the Federation. 

The House also expressed concern about the use of prohibited substances and said every effort must be made to curb this menace.

The State Associations were asked to educate coaches, athletes and parents while increasing vigilance to prevent those instigating athletes to use forbidden substances.

AFI has also formed a Constitution Revision Committee to further streamline the AFI Constitution so that the mistakes and ambiguities in the present version are removed. The committee has been given two months to come up with its recommendations to be placed before the AFI Executive Council.

The meeting ratified the decision to give grant of Rs. 10,000 to 100 districts as recognition of being among the most active districts in terms of conducting their activities and sending teams, However, payment has been transferred to only 39 district associations as the others were yet to send their bank account details and PAN numbers.

The House formed a committee to formalise the look and feel of various National Championships as well as State and District Championships. Together with the Indian Athletics Manual 2020, which it approved, a standard look and feel would attract and retain more youngsters to track and field sport, it was felt