AAFI draws long-term development programme

AAFI president Suresh Kalmadi told a press conference after the AAFI general body and executive committee meeting here today, that a 11-member selection committee comprising top former internationals with Kalmadi as chairman and AAFI secretary Lalit Bhanot as convenor has been constituted.

Former stars Sriram Singh, Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, Shiny Wilson, Adille Sumariwala, Eshwar Singh Deol, Suman Mehta Rawat, Shabir Ali, senior chief coach Bahadur Singh and his junior counterpart JS Saini will make up the panel.

Hitherto, only office-bearers had been in the panel.

Kalmadi announced that the government had agreed to raise cash incentives for Commonwealth Games medal winners on a par with that of Asiad medallists.

Consequently, the amounts will be raised to Rs five lakh for gold, Rs three lakh for silver and Rs two lakh for bronze from Rs one lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively with all 25 medallists at last year8217;s Kuala Lumpur Games eligible.

The raise in prize-money for Commonwealth Games medallists had come after Indian Olympic Association IOA had requested the Prime Minister and Sports Minister to look into the issue, Kalmadi, who is also the IOA chief, said.

Releasing a comprehensive long-term development programme for preparing the squads for various international meets, Kalmadi said foreign athletes have been invited to take part in the four national Circuit Meets this year to raise the level of competition.

The Circuit Meets introduced in 1994 have been a big success and hence the move to upgrade them to international meets. Atleast 50 athletes from abroad are expected to compete in the Circuit Meets to be held at Nagercoil July 3, Thiruvananthapuram July 6, Bangalore July 12 and Chennai July 15.

To evolve a systematic programme to further boost the standard of performances, today8217;s meeting made it mandatory for all the 32 units affiliated to AAFI to have chief coaches, competitions and camps.

8220;Any unit not complying with this will be disaffiliated from AAFI and amendments have been made in our constitution for this,8221; Kalmadi added.

The meeting, which reviewed the performances last year at Bangkok and in the Asian Track and Field Meet at Fukuoka, also drew up long-term junior programme for the 2004 and 2006.

The AAFI game-plan