Despite Russia’s continued exclusion from many global sports platforms due to geopolitical sanctions, the AFI is opening doors for Russian athletes to compete in Indian national events. In exchange, Indian athletes will gain access to training facilities in Russia—a move that prioritizes performance gains over the prevailing diplomatic trend of isolation.
While the official line focuses on “exchanging experience,” the decision to bypass international norms remains under-explained. Ostensibly, R
With top AFI and Russian officials finalizing the pact in private talks, observers are left to wonder whether this is a strategic play for technical dominance or a calculated geopolitical statement in the world of sports.
“Three years ago, I would never have believed that this life was possible.”
These are the words of Welsh athlete Sam Griffiths, the man behind one of the most staggering transformations in modern distance running. Standing on the finish line of the 2026 London Marathon this past Sunday, Griffiths didn’t just look like a different runner; he looked like a different human being.
The Weight of the Past
In 2023, Griffiths weighed 125 kg. At his heaviest, even short distances felt like an insurmountable challenge. His journey didn’t begin with a high-performance coach or a specialized camp; it started with a humble 5-kilometer walk-run to his parents’ house. Since then, he has shed 50 kg and evolved from a struggling beginner into an elite competitor.
A Masterclass in Progression
While Griffiths possessed a background in athletics—having clocked a 30:07 10km in his youth—his return to form has been nothing short of meteoric. Over the last twelve months, he has sliced more than 27 minutes off his marathon personal best through a series of world-class performances:
| Race | Date | Time |
| London Marathon | April 2025 | 2:50:37 |
| Berlin Marathon | Sept 2025 | 2:37:59 |
| Valencia Marathon | Dec 2025 | 2:29:33 |
| London Marathon | April 2026 | 2:23:02 |
The London Redemption
Returning to London this year was a mission of redemption. After “hitting the wall” during his 2025 debut, Griffiths dismantled the course this Sunday. Finishing in 43rd place overall, he maintained a blistering average pace of 3:23/km with a sustained average heart rate of 168 bpm.
For Griffiths, the clock is secondary to the message. “It’s not just about time,” he reflects. “It’s about demonstrating what you can achieve when you decide not to give up.” His story serves as a powerful reminder that while the numbers on a stopwatch are impressive, the mental shift required to change one’s life is the true victory.
India’s ambition to host the Asian Games in 2038 has received a significant push, with the Olympic Council of Asia backing Ahmedabad as the proposed host city.
On paper, it’s a big moment. India has long signalled its intent to bring a major multi-sport event back to the country, and a successful Asian Games bid could be a stepping stone toward an even larger ambition—the Olympics.
But the announcement also brings a more uncomfortable question into focus.
Is India ready?
Hosting an event of this scale is not just about infrastructure or intent. It’s about systems—governance, athlete support, anti-doping controls, and the ability to deliver consistently at an international standard. And on those fronts, India still has gaps to address.
From recurring concerns around athlete facilities to the growing scrutiny over doping, the ecosystem remains uneven. Even domestic competitions often struggle with basics—timing systems, logistics, and athlete welfare.
An Asian Games bid, especially one backed at the continental level, raises expectations. It demands not just world-class venues, but a world-class sporting culture.
Ahmedabad may well emerge as a strong host city. But for India, the real work lies beyond the bid.
In a move that has already stirred the athletics world, Allyson Felix—the most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympic history—has announced that she is coming out of retirement with one goal in mind: the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
At 42, Felix isn’t chasing nostalgia. She’s chasing qualification.
Her target is clear—earn a place at the U.S. Olympic Trials and fight for a spot in the relay pool. It’s a bold ambition for any athlete, let alone one who stepped away from competition after the World Athletics Championships 2022.
Media reports suggest Felix first floated the idea last June in a formal presentation to her brother and business partner Wes. The title captured the ambition perfectly: “Project Six.” A reference to what would be her sixth Olympic Games—a milestone that would extend one of the most remarkable careers in sport.
Preparation will be meticulous. A full training programme is set to begin in October under longtime coach Bobby Kersee, the man who guided her through multiple Olympic cycles. The timeline is deliberate, with Felix aiming to return to competition in 2027.
Felix has made it clear she does not intend to return to the grind of the global circuit. Instead, she plans a selective schedule—one that allows her to stay close to her two children while still pursuing excellence on the track.
At 42, Allyson Felix is redefining what a comeback can look like—not as a farewell tour, but as a bold attempt to compete, once again, at the very highest level.
The 24th National Junior U20 Athletics Federation Cup 2026 concluded at the Mahatma Gandhi Athletics Stadium, Tumkur, Karnataka.
The three-day event saw some of the best-ever results from India’s young army. The meet was supposed to act as the final qualifier for both the Asian and World U20 Athletics Championships, but the national federation uploaded a circular on their website on Day 1 stating that only racewalking, decathlon, and heptathlon athletes can qualify for Worlds from here, while others will have to compete at Indian Series–9 & 10 for World qualification.
1. Events — 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 3000m SC, Shot Put, Discus Throw, Hammer Throw, and Javelin Throw — will be conducted at Indian Athletics Series–9 in Ludhiana on 13th June 2026.
2. Events — 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 110mH/100mH, 400mH, High Jump, Pole Vault, Long Jump, Triple Jump — will be held at Indian Athletics Series–10 in Trivandrum on 14th June 2026.
Making it just a qualification event for the Asian Championships, here are some of the performances that stunned the field and made global waves:
1. Nitin Gupta shattered the Asian record, clocking the world’s 2nd-best time. The Uttar Pradesh athlete won gold in the U20 5km race walk with 18:54.37, breaking his own national record and becoming the first Asian to go sub-19. He also breached both Asian and World U20 qualification standards.
2. Kiran K continued his rise, with the U18 national record holder clocking 13.66s in the 110m hurdles semifinals to break the U20 national record, surpassing Tejas Shirse’s 13.74s (2021) and breaching the Asian standard.
3. Mohammed Ashfaq justified the hype with a sensational 46.05s in the 400m, breaking the U20 national record. The 18-year-old’s run is an Asian lead, India’s 7th fastest this season, and 20th all-time.
4. Kavinraja S defended his dominance in pole vault, clearing 5.12m to break his own meet record. He attempted 5.21m (U20 NR) but narrowly missed. Despite clearing qualification marks, he is ineligible due to age criteria (born in 2006).
5. Shahnavaz produced a massive 8.23m jump in long jump, breaking Murali Sreeshankar’s U20 NR (8.20m). It is India’s best jump this season, an Asian lead, and ranks 2nd in the world (U20).
6. Basant cleared 2.21m in high jump, breaking an 11-year-old meet record and improving his PB from 2.14m. The mark ranks 2nd in Asia and 5th in the world (U20).
7. Sadhana Ravi broke a 17-year-old meet record in women’s triple jump with 12.97m, breaching the Asian standard. Her season best of 13.08m ranks 2nd in Asia and 15th globally (U20).
8. Poonam delivered a standout performance in javelin, throwing 51.64m on her first attempt to break the meet record, achieve a PB, and breach the Asian standard.
9. Mogali Venkatram clocked 1:49.02s in the 800m to break a 4-year-old meet record, register an Asian lead, and secure qualification. It was his second consecutive PB this season.
10. Abhay Singh stormed to a 20.82s finish in the 200m, breaking the U20 national record and ranking 2nd in Asia. Despite breaching both Asian and World standards, he is ineligible due to the age criteria (born in 2006).
At the U-20 Federation Cup in Tumkur, Karnataka, Nitin Gupta delivered a performance that will be remembered for years. Clocking 18:54.37 in the U-20 5km race walk, the youngster from Uttar Pradesh not only won gold but also made history—becoming the first Asian ever to break the 19-minute barrier in the event. In the process, he set a new Asian record while improving his own national mark.
Speaking to NNIS Sports after the race, Nitin revealed that his preparation had been far from ideal. Just a day before the event, he was struggling with leg pain and uncertainty.
“I was worried the pain might return during the race,” he said.
Despite that, he stepped onto the track with a clear plan—to take control early and push for qualification. As the race unfolded, his body held up, and his confidence grew. By the final kilometre, the focus had shifted.
“I needed to push my pace from 3:45 to 3:40. Because even hearing ‘18’ sounds good,” he said, summing up the mindset of an athlete chasing something bigger than just a win.
Earlier this year, Nitin clocked 41:44 in the 10km race walk in Chandigarh, continuing his steady rise. In 2025, he had already announced himself by breaking the 40-minute barrier in the 10km event (39:46.78), setting a national record that underlined his potential.
At the Asian U-18 Championships, he missed out on gold by just 0.01 seconds—a loss that still lingers.
“For me, the biggest moment is hearing the national anthem,” he said. “0.01 second pain still drives me. I want to achieve at the Asian U-20 Championships what I missed there.”
With his latest performance, Nitin has qualified for both the Asian U-20 Championships and the World U-20 Championships. But for him, qualification is not the goal—it’s just the starting point.
“Performing like this only in domestic competitions is not enough,” he said. “I want to do it at the international level with good technique.”
That ambition may be the most telling part of his journey.
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When Sabastian Sawe crossed the finish line at the London Marathon i 1:59:30, he didn’t just break a barrier—he arrived as one of the most compelling stories in distance running.
Sawe’s journey begins in Kenya’s Rift Valley, near Eldoret, a region synonymous with endurance champions. Growing up in a rural setting, running was less a sport and more a way of life. Like many in the area, he covered long distances daily—often on foot—building the aerobic base that would later define his career.
But unlike many Kenyan stars, Sawe was not an early prodigy. He did not come through the junior circuit with major titles or global attention. His rise has been notably late and methodical. It was only in his early twenties that he began to take running seriously, gradually transitioning from local competitions to the international stage.
A key turning point came when he joined a structured training setup under Italian coach Claudio Berardelli. There, Sawe’s raw endurance was refined into elite performance. Training volumes reportedly pushed beyond 200 kilometres a week, with a focus on controlled pacing and strong finishes—hallmarks of his racing style today.
Before stepping into the marathon, Sawe built his reputation on the road racing circuit, particularly over the half marathon. His breakthrough performances in Europe signalled that he was more than just another Kenyan runner—he was an athlete with unusual efficiency and race awareness.
What sets Sawe apart is his racing intelligence. At the London Marathon, he executed a near-perfect strategy, running a disciplined first half before accelerating decisively in the latter stages. That ability to negative split—running the second half faster than the first—is rare at such speeds and reflects years of careful preparation.
There are also small but telling details about his routine. Reports note his simple pre-race diet—often bread and honey—reflecting a no-frills approach that prioritises consistency over complexity. His training environment remains grounded, with a focus on repetition and discipline rather than spectacle.
Sawe’s 1:59:30 did not come out of nowhere. It was the culmination of steady progress, built race by race, season by season. And while the headline will always be the sub-two-hour marathon, the story behind it is one of patience and structure.
The London Marathon has delivered unforgettable moments over the years. But nothing comes close to what unfolded in 2026.
For decades, the two-hour marathon stood as the ultimate barrier in athletics — chased, debated, but never officially broken. On April 26, that barrier didn’t just fall. It was obliterated.
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe etched his name into history, clocking an astonishing 1:59:30 to become the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon in official race conditions. It was a run of precision, power, and perfect pacing — one that redefined what was thought humanly possible.
But the story didn’t end there.
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, making his marathon debut, followed closely behind in 1:59:41. In one race, the unthinkable had happened twice.
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo completed a historic podium, finishing third in 2:00:28 — a time that, until now, would have comfortably been a world record.
To put that into perspective, all three athletes ran faster than the previous world record of 2:00:35, set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023. Never before had a marathon seen such depth at the very top.
The conditions in London were near-perfect — cool temperatures, minimal wind, and a field primed for fast running. But even then, what transpired went beyond favourable weather. This was the culmination of years of evolution in training methods, race strategy, nutrition, and shoe technology.
The two-hour mark has long been more than just a number. It represented the limits of endurance — a psychological and physiological ceiling. While Eliud Kipchoge famously broke it in 2019 under controlled, non-record conditions, doing so in an open, competitive race remained elusive.
Until now.
Sawe’s run will be remembered as a turning point — not just for the time, but for what it signals. The marathon has entered a new era, where sub-two is no longer a distant dream but an achievable benchmark.
And perhaps that is the most remarkable takeaway from London 2026.
Seventeen years is a long time to wait for a record to fall — but at the Junior Federation Cup, Sadhana Ravi made it look effortless.
The 2025 U18 national champion delivered a statement performance in the women’s triple jump, soaring to 12.97m to clinch gold and rewrite the meet record books. In doing so, she erased Gayathry’s long-standing mark of 12.87m set back in 2009 — a record that had stood unchallenged for nearly two decades.
But this wasn’t just about one record. With that leap, Sadhana also comfortably breached the Asian U20 qualification standard of 12.67m, underlining her growing stature as one of India’s most promising jumpers.
The competition itself had depth. Jasleen Kaur, the Indian Athletics Series-3 U20 champion, pushed the field with a strong 12.72m effort to finish second — also going past the Asian U20 mark. It was a reminder that India’s next generation in the horizontal jumps is not just emerging, but competing at a high level.
For Sadhana, however, this performance is part of a bigger trajectory. Earlier this season, she had already crossed the coveted 13m barrier, registering a personal best of 13.08m at the Open Jumps meet. That mark currently places her second in Asia in the U20 category — a significant indicator of her continental standing.
What stands out is not just the distances, but the consistency. To deliver near-13m performances across competitions suggests an athlete in control of her rhythm, technique, and competitive mindset.
With the Asian U20 Championships on the horizon, Sadhana Ravi isn’t just qualifying — she’s positioning herself as a serious contender.
