AFI Redesigns Domestic Calendar to Help Athletes Achieve Multiple Peaks

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New Delhi: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is revamping its domestic competition calendar to help track and field athletes perform consistently throughout the year. The aim is to push athletes toward 'multiple peaks' rather than focusing on just one good performance or peaking early in the season. The upcoming season will feature 40 competitions, up from 32, with lowered qualification standards to give more talented athletes a chance to shine. A new series, the Indian Athletics Series, will debut with 16 meets and a finale at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi after a three-year hiatus. The World Athletics Continental Tour meet in Bhubaneswar has been upgraded to silver level, offering more world ranking points. AFI has observed that athletes often peak early and struggle to maintain their performance throughout the season. For instance, long jumper Shaili Singh's best jump of 2025 came in April, but she was unable to improve upon it in subsequent competitions. Similarly, Gurindervir Singh smashed the national record in the 100m in February but lost steam thereafter. To address this issue, AFI is working closely with coaches to plan training and competitions across three periods: general preparation, specific preparation, and competition. The federation has also hosted seminars to educate coaches on the importance of maintaining athletes' competitiveness throughout the year. The revamped calendar includes the Federation Cup in Ranchi from May 22-25 and the National Inter-State meet in Bhubaneswar from July 8-12, which will serve as selection trials for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. AFI will discuss the selection criteria and prioritize disciplines to ensure athletes are well-prepared for the upcoming international competitions. To give budding athletes more opportunities, AFI has lowered the qualification standards for the Indian Athletics Series and introduced junior events. Athletes must participate in a minimum of two competitions for the Federation Cup Championships and three build-up competitions, including a state meet, for the Inter-State Championships and National Open Championships. With its new approach, AFI aims to help athletes achieve multiple peaks and perform consistently throughout the year, setting them up for success in the LA 2028 Olympics and beyond.