Meerut: In a major boost to Indian athletics, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Saturday decided in its annual general body meeting (AGM) that the Federation will be soon launching the National Collegiate Athletics Championship and the National School Athletics Championship. The two-day AGM got underway here today in the headquarters of India’s Sports Good Manufacturing Industry.

The AFI has already appointed a special committee to work on the modalities of the National Collegiate Championships, which is inspired by arguably one of the most successful programme for the development of athletics in the world, the US National Collegiate Championship. Besides, the National School Athletics Championship will provide a unique platform for talented youngsters who aspire to take up athletics and excel at the highest level.

Commenting on this development, the AFI President Mr Adille J Sumariwalla said, “The AFI is confident that the National Collegiate Athletics Championships and the National School Athletics Championships is the need of the hour. It will not only raise the profile of the sport and attract the youth today, but also create a solid supply chain system for the elite training programme for Indian athletics.”

Further, the National Collegiate Athletics Championships will seek to motivate the aspiring athletes with attractive prize money and the event will be LIVE on a prominent broadcaster. Mr Sumariwalla said, “The ecosystem has to change for athletics to become the number one choice for talented youth. The National Collegiate Athletics Championships will offer lucrative prize money and a few prominent broadcasters have also approached the Federation. We hope to finalise the deal soon.”

Meanwhile, the AFI AGM also took a decision that state units which were not carrying out their activities properly to promote athletics would be demoted to “associate state” status. The AGM will conclude here on Sunday.