AFI Cancels Nationwide Championships This Yr In View Of COVID-19 Pandemic | Athletics Information

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Wednesday cancelled this 12 months’s nationwide championships in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly bringing the season to an finish with none competitors. The transfer was on anticipated strains after the AFI on August 28 determined to defer the season, earlier scheduled to start out on September 12 in view of the worldwide well being disaster. There has not been any athletics competitors up to now this season. A nationwide throws open championships will likely be held in Patiala on October 26 and 27 and that would be the solely worthwhile occasion on the senior stage this 12 months. A number of zonal occasions in November and the nationwide youth championships in Vijaywada in December are the opposite competitions to be held this 12 months.

The AFI gave the impression to be hoping that the following season, which will likely be essential for Olympics qualification for quite a few athletes, will likely be a traditional one with the primary Indian Grand Prix in Thiruvananthapuram kick-starting the competitions for 2021 on February 12.

This will likely be adopted by the second and third Grand Prix occasions on February 19 and 27 in Thiruvananthapuram and Patiala respectively. The 2021 Federation Cup Senior Nationwide Championships will likely be held in Patiala from March 10-14, based on the calendar issued by AFI.

The Nationwide Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships will likely be held in Bengaluru from June 25-29. The calendar additionally pencilled within the first Nationwide Below-23 Championships in New Delhi from August 24-26.

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All of the Indian Grand Prix occasions, the Federation Cup and the Nationwide Inter-State are Olympic qualifying occasions.

“The competitors calendar was re-drawn maintaining in thoughts the rise within the COVID-19 circumstances throughout the nation…AFI is duty-bound to supply competitions to our athletes however because of the prevailing circumstances we have now to maintain the security of our athletes,” AFI President Adille Sumariwalla mentioned in a launch.