Athletes not camp-bound as AFI softens stance

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 22

Circumstances have forced the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to soften its hard stance on keeping the national athletes in the training camp. With a number of foreign training staff and several trainees being away for various reasons, the training schedules have been toned down a bit.

High Performance director Volker Hermann has recently returned to India after attending to his sick father. The deputy chief coach, P Radhakrishnan Nair, is currently in quarantine in Patiala after attending his son’s wedding. Quarter-mile coach Galina Bukharina is on a month-long annual leave and is expected to return in the first week of October.

The athletes too have been frequently leaving the camp due to personal reasons. Shot-putter Tejinder Pal Singh Toor has been permitted to leave to visit his ailing mother in Moga. He left the camp on Sunday and is expected to return by Friday.

Also, the 100 metre girls — Archana Susheedharan, Kaveri and Nitya Gandhi — have been allowed to appear for their university examinations. VS Vismaya has left the camp to attend to her duties with the Kerala Government, while Subha has left to appear for her examinations.

Quarter-miler Hima Das has returned to the camp after attending to her ailing mother in Assam. Discus-thrower Navjeet Kaur returned to Patiala today after being away.

Interruption

This constant churning of staff and athletes has interrupted the training schedules and many of athletes are said to be in the transition phase. The 100 metre teams, expected to be back by September 30, will start training on October 1. Toor and other throwers will start serious training only in November.

“We had to allow them to sit for exams. Others have been allowed to leave for personal reasons which needed attention,” said an AFI source privy to the developments.

“All are expected to be back by September 30. Right now, the 100m girls are in transition phase and will be starting training from October 1. Toor will take longer to start serious training, maybe by November. Most athletes are on different training programmes,” the source added.

Throws event in Oct?

Meanwhile, AFI is trying to organise a National Open competition for throwers in the last week of October in its effort to start its domestic competitive calendar. If successful, this would be the first such event in track & field after sports came to a halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic. AFI also has plans to hold zonal events for junior athletes, tentatively planned in November. However, the Indian Grand Prix is likely to be held in February next year.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.