‘Kohima Declaration’ sets roadmap for athletics growth in northeast

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has adopted the Kohima Declaration , outlining an ambitious roadmap to strengthen athletics in Nagaland and the wider Northeast region through targeted interventions, infrastructure development, and increased competitive opportunities.

The declaration was adopted at the conclusion of AFI’s two-day Annual General Meeting in Kohima , where officials emphasized integrating the Northeast more closely into the national sporting ecosystem. The initiative aims to create structured pathways for young athletes from the region to compete at national and international levels, while also positioning the Northeast as a hub for major athletics events.

Addressing the media, Lalit K. Bhanot said the meeting involved extensive deliberations, resulting in key decisions to strengthen the sport nationwide. Among the significant measures, the Athletics Federation of India has made SRY gene testing mandatory for athletes participating in national competitions, with costs to be covered jointly by the federation and the government. Additionally, DNA testing of around 100 athletes will be undertaken for research and performance mapping.

In a push to widen grassroots participation, AFI has decided to restructure district-level bodies to ensure greater rural representation by limiting members from district headquarters and including those from villages and blocks.

To popularise athletics across the country, the federation will organise an annual 2-km race across nearly 700 districts on August 30 each year.

Meanwhile, AFI vice-president Adille J. Sumariwalla announced disciplinary measures against non-performing state units. Athletics bodies in Chhattisgarh and Arunachal Pradesh will be suspended and replaced by ad hoc committees, while Tripura and Manipur have been placed on a watch list and downgraded to associate members without voting rights.

Sumariwalla also said that foreign high-performance directors have been appointed for both senior and junior athletes to improve India’s competitiveness on the global stage.