India is all set to host a star-studded javelin competition this year, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) confirmed Wednesday, also sharing the country’s plans to host big-ticket events in the future.
Tribune quotes AFI’s outgoing president Adille Sumariwalla as having said that India will host a global invitational javelin competition, most likely in September, which will feature two-time Olympics medallist Neeraj Chopra.
“Chopra will be one of the main contenders and also a member of the organising committee for this event. The top-10 javelin throwers from across the world will be invited. This is being done as there is so much interest in javelin, with August 7 being observed as the National Javelin Day,” Sumariwalla told Tribune.
Sumariwalla confirmed that India has expressed interest in hosting the 2027 World Relays and the 2029 World Championships, adding that the country has already submitted its expression of interest to host the 2028 World Junior Championships.
While talking about the Indian athletes’ performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Sumariwalla confirmed that changes are being made for the next Olympics cycle. “We consider the Olympics cycle as our ultimate platform to set our aim. We have held various meetings and already decisions have been made regarding change in relay teams, bringing in a Jamaican female coach, and many others. There were high expectations from our athletes in the Paris Olympics and I must admit there were some lacunas... and the process of fixing those have already started,” he said.
Sumariwalla also said that Chopra will not train with his coach Jan Zelezny throughout the year and seek his guidance only when required. Chopra hired three-time Olympics champion and world record holder Zelezny as his coach in November.
Bahadur Singh Sagoo elected AFI president
The AFI unanimously picked Asian Games gold-winning former shot putter Bahadur Singh Sagoo as the new president during its two-day Annual General Meeting here. Sagoo emerged as the lone candidate after incumbent senior vice-president Anju Bobby George pulled out of the race citing personal reasons.
The 51-year-old, who won gold in the 2002 Asian Games and also took part in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, will be serving a four-year term (2025-29). “I am thankful to all the members for electing me as president. I will take forward the existing programmes of the AFI. Along with the team, I will try to take the Indian athletics even further,” Sagoo said.
Sumariwalla, who had been holding the top position since 2012, said that he would continue his work with the AFI as spokesperson, while also helping in liaison with the India government, the Indian Olympic Association, the International Olympic Committee and World Athletics.
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