The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on the final day of its two‑day annual general meeting in Kohima adopted the “Kohima Declaration” to fast‑track athletics development in Nagaland and the wider Northeast. The package combines targeted interventions, infrastructure expansion and efforts to position the region as a host for national and international competitions, while introducing several national policy changes affecting athletes and state associations.
The declaration sets out a framework to more closely integrate the Northeast into India’s national sporting ecosystem and to create structured pathways for young athletes to reach elite levels. AFI says the plan will include facility upgrades, event promotion and targeted support for talent identification and coaching in the region.
Speaking to the media, Lalit K. Bhanot, president of the South Asian Athletics Federation, said the meeting involved extensive deliberations and produced key decisions aimed at strengthening athletics across the country. He underlined that the declaration also recognises athletics’ role in nation‑building and in fostering regional unity.
Among the major decisions, AFI has made SRY gene testing mandatory for athletes taking part in national competitions; the federation, in collaboration with the government, will cover the cost. Separately, DNA testing will be carried out for research and performance‑mapping purposes, starting with an initial cohort of around 100 athletes.
To broaden grassroots participation, AFI will restructure district‑level bodies to reduce the dominance of district headquarters and increase representation from villages and block‑level units. As part of mass‑engagement plans, the federation will stage an annual two‑kilometre public race across roughly 700 districts each year on August 30.
AFI Vice‑President and World Athletics President Adille J. Sumariwalla announced disciplinary steps against underperforming state units, saying the existing bodies in Chhattisgarh and Arunachal Pradesh will be suspended and replaced by ad hoc committees. He added that Tripura and Manipur have been placed on a watch list and downgraded to associate membership without voting rights, with stricter action warned if improvements are not seen.
Sumariwalla also said foreign high‑performance directors have been appointed for senior and junior programmes to boost India’s competitiveness internationally. AFI framed the package as a comprehensive effort to strengthen talent pathways, improve governance and raise the country’s athletic standards.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/nagaland/story/athletics-federation-of-india-adopts-kohima-declaration-to-boost-athletics-in-northeast-1376269-2026-04-15?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-04-15 21:45:00
