With three big international events — Asian Athletics championships, World Athletics championships and Asian Games — and a host of national events lined up this year, it is a busy schedule for the athletes.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has framed the training schedule in such a manner that the athletes will peak for the Asian Games and World Championships.
“Our aim is to do well in Asian Games and World Athletics championships. The Asian athletics meet is also important, but it will be treated more as an avenue for qualification for bigger events. Some of the elite athletes may not take part in Asian championships,” said chief coach P. Radhakrishnan Nair.
This season AFi has been pretty lenient with the athletes with regard to national camps and the decision to decentralise it has been welcomed by the athletes. “We decided to decentralise the camp this year.
“The athletes can train at the place of their choice but they should keep the federation and NADA in the loop. Sree Shankar, Neeraj Chopra, Annu Rani , Jeswin Aldrin have opted to train with their personal coaches.
“I am monitoring them and happy with their progress,” said the chief coach.
Radhakrishnan also said that the AFI has made it mandatory for the athletes to compete in the two meets — Federation Cup and inter-State championships — where their progress would be evaluated.
“Federation Cup and inter-State events will be important not because these are qualifying meets, but it presents us with a chance to evaluate their performance and rectify the flaws,” he said.
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