Latest news with #AFI
Hindustan Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Athletes who train under unregistered coaches will not be recommended for national awards: AFI
New Delhi, The Athletics Federation of India will not recommend anyone who trains with unregistered coaches for national honours like the Arjuna and Khel Ratna award, a move that it hopes will help tackle the spiralling doping cases in the sport's national circuit. Athletes who train under unregistered coaches will not be recommended for national awards: AFI The involvement of coaches in doping by track-and-field athletes has been an open secret. The AFI, in recent times, has tried to deal with the matter by launching some initiatives of its own apart from the regular mechanism of vigorous testing and awareness campaigns. Recently, the AFI set a July 31 deadline for mandatory registration of all the coaches qualified and unqualified in the country, making it clear that non compliance of the directive will lead to their blacklisting. "We are hoping that the coaches register themselves. After that, we are going to make it public that only these are the registered coaches. Those who have not registered they will be blacklisted," AFI spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla told PTI. "If an athlete trains with an unregistered coach, the AFI will not recommend the athlete for any national award if he or she wins medals. Such athletes cannot get anything." "I believe coaches, even parents today, are involved in doping. This is unfortunate," said Sumariwalla, a former AFI president. Sumariwalla is a vocal advocate of criminalisation of doping as he feels unless dope offenders are sent to jail, tackling the menace will be difficult. However, the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 provides no such measures. "I am not in the Parliament, but we have to do something. All those who are involved in doping will have to be sent to jail. Only then people will realise that this is not a joke. If you want to win this fight, you have to take some drastic steps," said Sumariwalla who is also a vice president of World Athletics. "Otherwise within the law, we have to do what we have to do. But today, nothing happens. They just go scot-free or they get four years, then they say, yes, we have taken and make it three years. "All this nonsense has to stop," he said referring to the reduction of the ban period through case resolution agreement by early admission of guilt by the athlete. Alarmed by the rising doping cases among Indian track and field athletes, the AFI, in its AGM in Chandigarh in January, made it compulsory for all coaches to register with it or else they would be blacklisted. Unregistered coaches will not be permitted to impart training to athletes and will not be engaged in any activity of the AFI under any circumstances. Upon successful registration, each coach will be allotted a unique registration number by the AFI and an ID card will be issued. In addition, the AFI has also decided to form an anti-doping cell to identify coaches suspected to be "involved in doping of their wards" and for drawing up a list of training centres which serve as "hideouts" for cheats on the recommendation of a high-powered committee to deal with the menace. The AFI will share this intelligence with the National Anti-Doping Agency and Athletics Integrity Unit established by World Athletics. 'New National Sports Policy is good but implementation key' ===================================== Sumariwalla said the new Khelo Bharat Niti , which got Cabinet approval on July 1, was a well-crafted one with its thrust of accountable and clean governance, infrastructure upgradation and promotion of a league culture. "I think it is a very good policy. See, if you want good governance, you need a good policy. If you look at the policy overall, it has four or five very important pillars. "One is excellence, two is infrastructure, three is sports science, four is social upliftment, five is the industry of sports. So, if you have these five pillars, I think it is a well-crafted policy. "In India, policy is not the problem, the implementation of the policy is the problem. So we hope that the implementation will be good." This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Citizen
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Sun Goddess' Vanya Mangaliso and musician Feya Faku laid to rest
Vanya Mangaliso and Feya Faku died just three days apart. Born 10 years apart, died just three days apart and laid to rest on the same day. Vanya Mangaliso and Feya Faku. Pictures: Supplied,Fashion designer Vanya Mangaliso and musician Feya Faku, who died just three days apart, were separately laid to rest on Saturday. Sun Goddess founder Mangaliso passed away on the 26th of June, while Faku died during his tour in Switzerland three days before that. Mangaliso was 53 at the time of her death, and Faku was 10 years older. ALSO READ: 'A profound loss': Fashion world mourns Sun Goddess Vanya Mangaliso 'She worked tirelessly for the good of her family' Mangaliso was widely respected for her contributions to South African fashion, a field to which she dedicated 25 years of her life. Speaking at the funeral, her son, Kwantu Mangaliso, said his mother was very special to many people. 'One thing I can say is that a role she took most seriously and a role that she excelled at was being a mother. Specifically being a mother to the four of us,' said Kwantu. Since her passing, tributes have poured in from various corners for the designer. Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, founder and chief executive of Africa Fashion International (AFI), described Mangaliso as a distinguished fashion designer and businesswoman. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula paid tribute to Mangaliso as a trailblazer in the fashion world. 'She was the first to commercialise African designer wear, taking it from the back room to boutique stores in top malls. 'She cracked the door open for Maxhosa, Bathu and others by mainstreaming African designers and brands,' wrote Mbalula. 'My mother worked tirelessly for the good of her family and she helped build us into the people we are today. My mom was pretty much the hardest working person I knew,' said son, Kwantu. Mangaliso was laid to rest at the Heroes Acre in Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg. This is the same burial site where musicians like Mandoza and AKA, boxer Baby Jake Matlala and actor Joe Mafela were also buried. Mangaliso is survived by her husband, Thando Mangaliso; her children, Limani, Kwantu, Kwindla, and Kumkani Mangaliso; nieces, nephews, cousins; extended family; and her legacy, the Sun Goddess. ALSO READ: Jazz legend Feya Faku dies while on tour in Switzerland The trumpet was like his second voice Faku, an internationally renowned trumpeter, was buried in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. 'One of the things we have not done as South Africans is to appreciate Feya as a world-renowned trumpeter because most of the time Feya has been traveling across the globe,' said Gift Ngqondi, speaking for the family at the funeral. 'Whether he is attending the North Sea Jazz Festival, whether he was in Switzerland, or Norway and these are the places that Feya has performed than any other place in South Africa ' Fellow musician, saxophonist McCoy Mrubata, said he enjoyed Faku's style of playing the trumpet. 'The trumpet was like his second voice,' Mrubata said speaking to the SABC. 'He was very melodic and he had technique, but he could be very very soulful, you know, I used to enjoy his trumpet playing.' Before his demise, Faku was reportedly exploring the idea of starting a music program in New Brighton schools to help nurture musical talent in the community. NOW READ: WATCH: Modise Sekgothe, a poet equipped in the exercise of digging deep and baring himself naked
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First Post
06-07-2025
- Sport
- First Post
India to bid for both 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships after successful Neeraj Chopra Classic
World Athletics, the sport's governing body, will announce the hosts of both the 2029 and 2031 editions in September 2026. read more Bengaluru: India will mount a 'strategic' bid for both the 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships when the process begins later this year, hoping to get the hosting right of one of the two editions of the showpiece, national federation spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla said on Sunday. World Athletics, the sport's governing body, will announce the hosts of both the 2029 and 2031 editions in September 2026. The deadline for expression of interest by the member countries is October 1, 2025. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We are going to do strategic bidding for 2029 and 2031 (Championships). Both editions will be awarded together and whichever edition we get is fine,' Sumariwalla, a vice-president of the World Athletics and former president of Athletics Federation of India (AFI), told PTI. 'There is still some time (for the process to start). We are going to submit the bids,' added Sumariwalla, who was here for the inaugural edition of the NC Classic international javelin event won by host and competitor Neeraj Chopra, the double Olympic medal-winning javelin superstar, on Saturday. The deadline for initial submission of application for the world championships is April 1, 2026. The interested countries will have to then submit the final bid application by August 5, 2026, before the World Athletics Council announces the host cities of the 2029 and 2031 editions of world championships. The AFI had decided to bid for a slew of high-profile events in view of India's hopes to host the 2036 Olympics. The Federation had earlier talked about bidding for the 2029 world championships but the idea of the 'strategic' bidding for 2031 edition also could be due to the reason that Asia is hosting both the 2025 and 2027 editions of the showpiece, and it could be difficult for India to get the next one. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The 2025 world championships will be held in Tokyo in September-October while the 2027 edition will be held in Beijing. In this scenario, India has a better chance to get the 2031 edition. Giving India the 2029 edition would mean that Asia would be hosting the showpiece three times in a row. The nearest event India has a chance of hosting is the junior world championships in 2028 for which the AFI has submitted expression of interest when WA chief Sebastian Coe visited the country towards the end of 2024. 'We have already submitted expression of interest for the 2028 Junior World Championship,' said Sumariwalla. World Athletics will announce the hosts of both the 2028 and 2030 editions of junior world championships in December 2025. The deadline for initial submission of bid application is September 22, 2025. The interested countries will have to then submit the final bid application by November 7, 2025. 'We are also bidding for World Athletics Relays after the next two editions. The hosts for the next two editions have already been announced,' he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Botswana will host the 2026 edition of the World Relays while the 2028 edition will be held in the Bahamas.
NDTV
06-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
India To Bid For Both 2029 And 2031 World Athletics Championships
India will mount a "strategic" bid for both the 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships when the process begins later this year, hoping to get the hosting right of one of the two editions of the showpiece, national federation spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla said on Sunday. World Athletics, the sport's governing body, will announce the hosts of both the 2029 and 2031 editions in September 2026. The deadline for expression of interest by the member countries is October 1, 2025. "We are going to do strategic bidding for 2029 and 2031 (Championships). Both editions will be awarded together and whichever edition we get is fine," Sumariwalla, a vice-president of the World Athletics and former president of Athletics Federation of India (AFI), told PTI. "There is still some time (for the process to start). We are going to submit the bids," added Sumariwalla, who was here for the inaugural edition of the NC Classic international javelin event won by host and competitor Neeraj Chopra, the double Olympic medal-winning javelin superstar, on Saturday. The deadline for initial submission of application for the world championships is April 1, 2026. The interested countries will have to then submit the final bid application by August 5, 2026, before the World Athletics Council announces the host cities of the 2029 and 2031 editions of world championships. The AFI had decided to bid for a slew of high-profile events in view of India's hopes to host the 2036 Olympics. The Federation had earlier talked about bidding for the 2029 world championships but the idea of the "strategic" bidding for 2031 edition also could be due to the reason that Asia is hosting both the 2025 and 2027 editions of the showpiece, and it could be difficult for India to get the next one. The 2025 world championships will be held in Tokyo in September-October while the 2027 edition will be held in Beijing. In this scenario, India has a better chance to get the 2031 edition. Giving India the 2029 edition would mean that Asia would be hosting the showpiece three times in a row. The nearest event India has a chance of hosting is the junior world championships in 2028 for which the AFI has submitted expression of interest when WA chief Sebastian Coe visited the country towards the end of 2024. "We have already submitted expression of interest for the 2028 Junior World Championship," said Sumariwalla. World Athletics will announce the hosts of both the 2028 and 2030 editions of junior world championships in December 2025. The deadline for initial submission of bid application is September 22, 2025. The interested countries will have to then submit the final bid application by November 7, 2025. 'We are also bidding for World Athletics Relays after the next two editions. The hosts for the next two editions have already been announced,' he added. Botswana will host the 2026 edition of the World Relays while the 2028 edition will be held in the Bahamas.
Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
India to bid for both 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships
Bengaluru, India will mount a "strategic" bid for both the 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships when the process begins later this year, hoping to get the hosting right of one of the two editions of the showpiece, national federation spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla said on Sunday. India to bid for both 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships World Athletics, the sport's governing body, will announce the hosts of both the 2029 and 2031 editions in September 2026. The deadline for expression of interest by the member countries is October 1, 2025. "We are going to do strategic bidding for 2029 and 2031 . Both editions will be awarded together and whichever edition we get is fine," Sumariwalla, a vice-president of the World Athletics and former president of Athletics Federation of India , told PTI. "There is still some time . We are going to submit the bids," added Sumariwalla, who was here for the inaugural edition of the NC Classic international javelin event won by host and competitor Neeraj Chopra, the double Olympic medal-winning javelin superstar, on Saturday. The deadline for initial submission of application for the world championships is April 1, 2026. The interested countries will have to then submit the final bid application by August 5, 2026, before the World Athletics Council announces the host cities of the 2029 and 2031 editions of world championships. The AFI had decided to bid for a slew of high-profile events in view of India's hopes to host the 2036 Olympics. The Federation had earlier talked about bidding for the 2029 world championships but the idea of the "strategic" bidding for 2031 edition also could be due to the reason that Asia is hosting both the 2025 and 2027 editions of the showpiece, and it could be difficult for India to get the next one. The 2025 world championships will be held in Tokyo in September-October while the 2027 edition will be held in Beijing. In this scenario, India has a better chance to get the 2031 edition. Giving India the 2029 edition would mean that Asia would be hosting the showpiece three times in a row. The nearest event India has a chance of hosting is the junior world championships in 2028 for which the AFI has submitted expression of interest when WA chief Sebastian Coe visited the country towards the end of 2024. "We have already submitted expression of interest for the 2028 Junior World Championship," said Sumariwalla. World Athletics will announce the hosts of both the 2028 and 2030 editions of junior world championships in December 2025. The deadline for initial submission of bid application is September 22, 2025. The interested countries will have to then submit the final bid application by November 7, 2025. 'We are also bidding for World Athletics Relays after the next two editions. The hosts for the next two editions have already been announced,' he added. Botswana will host the 2026 edition of the World Relays while the 2028 edition will be held in the Bahamas. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
