Athletics Federation of India Shifts Training Strategy Post-Paris Olympics

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has decided to discontinue running national training camps for elite athletes after the Paris Olympics, shifting the responsibility to public and private entities. This decision aims to decentralize training facilities, allowing athletes to train closer to their homes. The move is anticipated to provide athletes with more accessibility and increase the size of the elite athletes’ pool, fostering a competitive environment across the country. While top athletes like Neeraj Chopra and M Sreeshankar will no longer train under the AFI’s purview after Paris 2024, the federation will continue to monitor them through a team of coaches. This strategic shift aligns with the goal of promoting sports development through collaboration with states, private entities, and public-sector organizations.

Indian athletics legend and AFI senior vice-president, Anju Bobby George, supports the move, emphasizing the benefits for athletes in terms of accessibility and academic pursuits. The decentralization of training camps will enable athletes to train closer to their homes, reducing the challenges associated with being away for extended periods. Anju Bobby George sees this as a positive step toward creating a better system for Indian athletics, acknowledging potential initial challenges but anticipating long-term benefits for both athletes and coaches. This shift aligns with the broader vision of enhancing India’s sports infrastructure and fostering a conducive environment for sports development.