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Athletics — Step-by-Step Roadmap

Governed by World Athletics · Athletics Federation of India (AFI) ·Last checked 17 Oct 2026

The whole Athletics journey, 0 to 100, in order: the four stages from a local club to the international level, who can start, the detailed route with trials and selection rules, what is open at every age, where to train, who pays, and the jobs and money after. Every step is taken from the same official sources as the main Athletics guide.

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01 Four stages, in order

Zero to podium — the four stages

  1. Stage 1 · 8–14 · 9–18 Grassroots & local entry

    NSTC schools (8–14) and SAI's KIRTI tests at 174 centres (9–18); district meets and NIDJAM for U14/U16 — with age checks. [15][23][11]

  2. Stage 2 · 12–20 State to national breakthrough

    Up to 8th at Sub-Junior/Junior Nationals or top 3 in the state opens SAI Training Centre tests; zonal meets lead to the National Junior Championships. KIYG 2026 lists athletics. [15][7][26]

  3. Stage 3 · Senior National camp & elite trials

    NCOE induction after an age test (Patiala, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram…). Senior Nationals need a qualifying mark at an Indian Open or Grand Prix the same year. [12][9]

  4. Stage 4 · 20+ International orbit

    World ranking is the road: at the 2027 Worlds about 40% enter on standard, 60% on ranking (marks from 23 Aug 2026, category C+ meets). File whereabouts in ADAMS. [4][10]

Fuel, from stage 1: food first. Pair cereals with pulses about 3:1 — roti or rice with dal, chana or rajma; vegetarians add milk or curd, others eggs, fish or meat. ICMR-NIN says most athletes get enough protein from food and protein powders are unnecessary; NADA warns that no supplement is risk-free. [27][18]

02 Physical benchmarks & anti-doping

Shoe limits, age checks and whereabouts

Maximum sole thickness — World Athletics shoe regulations (from 20 April 2026) [2]

Maximum sole thickness — World Athletics shoe regulations (from 20 April 2026)
EventsMaximum sole
Track events (not race walks), jumps and javelin20 mm, spike or non-spike shoe; in jumps the forefoot sole may not be higher than the heel
Road running and race walks (road and track)40 mm
Shot put, discus, hammer, cross-country, mountain and trailThe sole rules do not apply, and the shoe need not be on the approved list
  • Every other shoe must be on World Athletics' approved list. A development shoe (a prototype not on sale) is allowed for at most 12 months and never at the Olympic Games or World Athletics Series events.
  • Spikes may be at most 9 mm long on most tracks (12 mm in high jump and javelin). [2]
  • SAI runs an Age Verification Test on new NCOE inductees (boys under 17, girls under 15) before they join; an athlete who does not join within 7 days loses the place. [12]
  • AFI publishes overage lists after age-verification checks at events such as the National Inter-District Junior Athletics Meet (NIDJAM). [11]
  • Filing your whereabouts with NADA, WADA or the Athletics Integrity Unit in ADAMS is mandatory to compete in India or abroad; missed tests and late filings lead to filing failures, for which the athlete alone is responsible. [10]
03 Grassroots-to-elite roadmap

From the district meet to the national camp

The athletics ladder [11][15][5][7][12][9]

The athletics ladder
StepAgeWhat happens
1. District & inter-districtU14 · U16District meets and NIDJAM — with age checks
2. SAI Training Centre12–18Up to 8th at Sub-Junior/Junior Nationals, or top 3 at state level, can enter after tests
3. Junior NationalsU14–U20Zonal meets, then the National Junior Championships
4. SAI NCOEScouted athletesInducted by SAI's KITD division after the age test
5. Senior qualificationSeniorQualify at the Indian Open or Indian Grand Prix meets for the Federation Senior Nationals
6. National camp & team—AFI selection for Asian, Commonwealth, World and Olympic events

In 2025 AFI made it compulsory to reach the qualification standard at an Indian Open meet or Indian Grand Prix in the same year to be accepted for the National Federation Senior Championships — without it, the entry is refused. [9]

04 Every age group, child to masters

Athletics at every age — U14 kids' javelin to the M100+ masters

Athletics runs from childhood to past 100: AFI age groups from U14, World Athletics U18 and U20, open seniors with no upper limit, and masters from the 35th birthday in five-year groups that go past 100. [7][1][22]

  1. 8–14years
    Child

    SAI-adopted school (NSTC)

    SAI adopts schools with good facilities in Athletics — one of the nine school sports of its National Sports Talent Contest — so a child of 8 to 14 can study and train there with an NSNIS-trained coach. Entry on district or state results, a battery of tests, age check and medical. [15]

  2. 9–18years
    Child

    KIRTI talent test

    SAI's KIRTI programme tests children aged 9 to 18 at 174 Talent Assessment Centres to feed the SAI and Khelo India pipeline. [23]

  3. 12–18years
    Youth

    SAI Training Centre (STC)

    Athletics is one of the 27 sports at SAI's Training Centres. Entry at 12 to 18: up to 8th at Sub-Junior (incl. cadet) or Junior Nationals, top 3 at a state championship, or top 3 at a district or school-board championship to sit the trials — then a battery of tests. [15]

  4. Under 14 · 16years
    Child

    U14 and U16 — district meets, NIDJAM, Junior Nationals

    Under-14s throw a kids' javelin from a 5 m runway and do a Triathlon; Under-16s a Pentathlon with a standing shot put. AFI publishes overage lists after its age checks. [7][11]

  5. 16–17years
    Youth

    Under 18 (U18)

    Lighter implements (boys' javelin 700 g, girls' 500 g) and the Heptathlon. SAI's NCOE age test covers boys under 17 and girls under 15. [1][3][12]

  6. 17+years
    Coach · official

    Coach — SAI NSNIS courses

    After Class 12: the Six-Week Certificate Course in Sports Coaching (₹14,800; 4 weeks online, 2 at a SAI centre) needs a top-3 district school result, or state, inter-university, SGFI or national participation. The 1-year Diploma in Sports Coaching (₹63,800) runs in Athletics: Class 12 + an international record, or a degree + Senior Nationals, Khelo India University or inter-university play, or Junior Nationals twice. [24][25]

  7. 18–19years
    Junior

    Under 20 (U20)

    Men's javelin 800 g; the U20 Junior National is the junior national that Railways count for jobs. [1][3][20]

  8. 18–28years
    Job window

    Sports-quota job window

    Railways sports quota takes ages 18–25 (on 1 Jan 2027, Western Railway 2026-27 notice). CRPF takes 18–23 (on 1 Aug 2026) plus 5 years for a sportsperson — up to 28 unreserved, 31 OBC, 33 SC/ST. Central Group C posts relax the upper age by up to 5 years (10 for SC/ST). [20][21][19]

  9. Under 23years
    Junior

    Indian Open U23

    AFI's own U23 competition between junior and senior. [6]

  10. 20+years
    Senior · open

    Senior — Worlds and LA28

    Open to all ages once you leave U20. Beijing 2027 entry standards are high — e.g. men's javelin 85.50 m, women's 63.40 m. [1][4]

  11. 35–59years
    Masters · veterans

    Masters M35/W35 to M55/W55

    Masters start on the 35th birthday. Each five-year group (35–39, 40–44 …) races and throws only against its own age, set by your age on the first day of the meet. [1][22]

  12. 60–100+years
    Masters · veterans

    Masters M60 to M100+

    WMA groups continue 60–64 … 95–99 and 100+ — and beyond 100 they still run in five-year steps. Cross-country is 6 km from 70 (8 km for 35–65). [22]

05 Top training academies & cities

Where India's athletes are trained

SAI athletics inductions of 17 December 2024 [12][13][14]

SAI athletics inductions of 17 December 2024
CentreCityAthletes inducted
NSNIS PatialaPatiala, Punjab29 (including javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra)
NCOE Bengaluru (NSSC)Bengaluru, Karnataka40
LNCPEThiruvananthapuram, Kerala26

Athletics is also trained at SAI NCOEs in Bhopal, Lucknow, Sonepat, Hamirpur, Guwahati, Imphal, Kolkata, Dharamshala (girls) and Gandhinagar. [15]

06 Equipment costs & who pays

Who pays an athlete at each level

Who pays — athletics [15][17]

Who pays — athletics
StagePaid byWhat you get
Adopted school (age 8–14)SAI National Sports Talent ContestKit, competition exposure and a stipend each year
SAI centre traineeSAICoaching, boarding and sports science at an STC or NCOE
Khelo India athleteMinistry of Youth Affairs & Sports₹6.28 lakh a year incl. ₹1.20 lakh cash
Junior medal prospectTOPS Development Group₹25,000 a month
Olympic prospectTOPS Core Group₹50,000 a month + approved training plan
Athlete in needPDU National Welfare FundUp to ₹2.50 lakh
  • Spikes and racing shoes must be on the approved list and within the sole limits above — buy approved models, not just any 'spikes'.
  • Education Margdarshan does not print shop prices: no governing body publishes them, and models change every season. [2]
  • Food first, with a certified nutritionist; no supplement is 100% safe and strict liability applies. [18]
07 Earning channels & central job quotas

Awards, pensions, coaching and sports-quota jobs

  • Athletics is one of the 65 sports in the central sports quota for Group C posts, with up to 5 years' age relaxation (10 for SC/ST).
  • Medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or World Championships can bring up to three out-of-turn promotions. [19]

Retired champions can receive the Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons of ₹12,000–20,000 a month. [17]

Coaching route: AFI runs Pre Level 1 courses and World Athletics CECS Level 1–3 coach courses, and publishes the results and certified-coach lists on its website. [5]

08 Official sources & verification

Where this roadmap comes from

The sources cited on this page, numbered as on the main Athletics guide, read on 17 October 2026. Trials, age rules and scheme amounts change — open the current file before you act on it.

  1. World Athletics — Book C: Competition Rules (C1.1) and Technical Rules (C2.1) (opens in a new tab) U18, U20 and Masters categories; false-start rule · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  2. World Athletics — Athletic Shoe Regulations (approved 19 March 2026, effective 20 April 2026) (opens in a new tab) Sole thickness table, events outside the rules, approved and development shoes, spike length · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  3. World Athletics — Book C: Competition Rules (C1.1) & Technical Rules (C2.1) (opens in a new tab) Implement weights by age, certified implements, trials and time limits, javelin and circle fouls, sectors, jump fouls, lane width · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  4. World Athletics — Qualification System and Entry Standards, World Athletics Championships Beijing 2027 (May 2026) (opens in a new tab) Senior events, entry standards, 40/60 standards-rankings split, qualifying windows, area champions · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  5. Athletics Federation of India — official website (opens in a new tab) 6th Indian Open U23 (Jaipur, Oct 2026), zonal junior championships 2026, Pre Level 1 and WA CECS coach courses · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  6. AFI — 65th National Open Athletics Championships 2026: competition schedule (opens in a new tab) Dates and venue, New Delhi, 8–11 Oct 2026 · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  7. AFI — 41st National Junior Athletics Championships 2026: competition schedule (opens in a new tab) U14, U16, U18, U20 age groups, 98 finals, combined events by age, Chennai 23–27 Oct 2026 · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  8. AFI — Notice: mandatory participation in Indian Open meets or Indian Grand Prix (1 Apr 2025) (opens in a new tab) Qualifying mark must come from an Indian Open or Grand Prix meet for the Federation Senior Nationals · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  9. AFI — Letter to athletes on submission of whereabouts (22 Nov 2023) (opens in a new tab) Whereabouts in ADAMS mandatory to compete, filing failures · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  10. AFI — Overage athlete lists (age verification reports) (opens in a new tab) Overage lists from NIDJAM, junior and other national events · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  11. SAI KITD — Induction of 29 athletes at NSNIS Patiala (17 Dec 2024) (opens in a new tab) Inductee list, Age Verification Test (boys U-17, girls U-15), 7-day joining rule · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  12. SAI KITD — Induction of 40 athletes at NCOE Bangalore (17 Dec 2024) (opens in a new tab) 40 athletics inductees at NSSC Bengaluru · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  13. SAI KITD — Induction of 26 athletes at LNCPE Trivandrum (17 Dec 2024) (opens in a new tab) 26 athletics inductees at LNCPE Thiruvananthapuram · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  14. SAI — Brief on Sports Promotional Schemes 2024-25 (opens in a new tab) Athletics NCOEs, STC individual-event entry, NSTC support, weeding-out rules · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  15. PIB — Financial Support to Athletes (5 Aug 2024) (opens in a new tab) Khelo India, TOPS Core and Development allowances, welfare fund, pension · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  16. NADA India — Managing the Risk of Nutritional Supplements (opens in a new tab) Food first, supplement risk, strict liability · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  17. DoPT — Instructions on Recruitment/Promotion for Sportspersons (18 Nov 2022) (opens in a new tab) Athletics in the 65-sport list, Group C, out-of-turn promotion · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  18. Western Railway RRC — Employment Notice RRC/WR/01/2026 (Sports Quota), 27 Aug 2026 (opens in a new tab) 2026-27 athletics posts by level, age 18–25 on 1 Jan 2027, level norms, U20 Junior National, MoYAS-recognition rule, fees, 5-year service bond · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  19. CRPF — Recruitment of Meritorious Sportspersons, HC & Constable (GD), Sports Quota 2026 (Advt. R.II-21/2026-Sports, 17 Sep 2026) (opens in a new tab) 521 posts incl. 101 for athletics by event, age 18–23 on 1 Aug 2026 and sportsperson relaxation, sports qualifications, fee, ₹1 lakh service bond · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  20. World Masters Athletics — Competition and Technical Rules (October 2026) (opens in a new tab) Masters age groups M35/W35 to M100+/W100+ in five-year steps, age on the first day of competition · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
  21. PIB — India's Sporting Transformation (backgrounder, 10 June 2025) (opens in a new tab) KIRTI talent tests for ages 9–18 at 174 Talent Assessment Centres · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  22. SAI NSNIS Patiala — Six Week Certificate Course in Sports Coaching (opens in a new tab) 6 weeks (4 online, 2 offline), ₹14,800, Class 12 + district-level top 3 or state / inter-university / SGFI / national participation · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
  23. SAI NSNIS Patiala — Diploma in Sports Coaching (course page, 2026-27) (opens in a new tab) 1 year, ₹63,800, 785 + 104 seats in 26 disciplines at Patiala, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram; Category A (Class 12 + international record), B (graduation + national record) · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
  24. Khelo India Youth Games 2026 (Telangana) — Sports (opens in a new tab) The 25 disciplines listed for KIYG 2026 · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
  25. ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition — Dietary Guidelines for Indians (booklet), Guideline 8 (opens in a new tab) Cereal-pulse 3:1 protein quality, vegetarian and non-vegetarian protein sources; most athletes meet protein needs from food, protein powders unnecessary · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
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The rules and scoring, recognition, the traps to avoid and player doubts.

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