Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has been shortlisted among six finalists nominated for the Member Federations Award of the World Athletics Awards 2024. The Asian Athletics Association, which awarded AFI the Best National Federation Award in July 2023, nominated AFI as the continent’s best federation for the World Athletics Awards 2024.
A World Athletics media release said that the other finalists – one from each Area Association – included Ghana Athletics Association (Africa), Paraguay Athletics Federation (South America), Portugal Athletics Federation (Europe), Athletic Solomon Islands (Oceania) and USA Track and Field (North America).
The Member Federations Award recognises a Member Federation that has distinguished itself throughout the year and, as a result, positively contributed to the growth and profile of the sport. The winner will be announced on World Athletics’ platforms, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024, the release said.
World Athletics noted that AFI further developed its Coaches Education Programme in 2024. “Offering three progressive courses, the programme is designed to elevate the quality of athletics coaching across the country. Since its launch, more than 3000 coaches have completed the AFI Pre Level 1 course, making a significant impact on grassroots coaching,” the release stated.
“The Federation is also working to broaden the reach of its Kids’ Athletics programme (known as National Inter-District Junior Athletics Meet, NIDJAM). Notably, its U14 programme has seen significant success, with more than 4000 annual participants, and the introduction of Kids Javelin,” the release added, highlighting two areas of work that the AFI has undertaken intensely.
AFI has often said that NIDJAM is the world’s largest grassroots talent search programme in a single sport, touching the lives of 100,000 boys and girls in the U14 and U16 age-groups. It has been the stepping stone for a number of athletes, not the least being two-time Olympic Games medalist Neeraj Chopra, who have competed for India at the Asian and World levels.
AFI’s coaching module – the pre-level 1 course – was designed during the Covid-19 pandemic to help Indian coaches be prepared to take up the World Athletics Level 1 Coaching Course. Its use of digital technology to encourage more coaches and technical officials has often come in for praise from AAA and World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe.
