The Athletics Federation of India has come under intense scrutiny after a major organizational lapse during the India Athletics Series-3 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday 11
The criticism stems from a video that has gone viral on social media showing a man casually walking onto the track in the middle of the junior 200m final. The incident happened just as the athletes were sprinting at full speed, with one runner forced to adjust his line slightly to avoid a potential collision.
The breach raised serious questions about the safety of athletes and the management of events at the national level competition. With multiple races taking place simultaneously, many are questioning how an unauthorized person could have entered the track without any immediate intervention from officials or security personnel.
SERIOUS FAILURE EXPOSED HERE
Fans were quick to react online, expressing disbelief at what they described as a “shocking” lapse. Several of them pointed out that such incidents are rarely seen even at lower-level meetings, let alone at a recognized domestic event. Others were more critical of the wider ecosystem, suggesting the episode reflected deeper problems in the organization and execution of athletics competitions in the country.
There was also a sense of sarcasm in some of the reactions, with users noting that fortunately the situation did not lead to a serious accident. The narrow escape, they argued, should serve as a wake-up call rather than a moment of relief.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
A man casually walking around the track during a race!
Is this the standard of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) domestic events?
Are we serious about this event? pic.twitter.com/o8L6sVFyuN— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) April 11, 2026
The timing of the incident further heightened concerns. With plans, India is actively seeking to establish itself as a global sports hub to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and the growing debate surrounding a potential Olympic candidacy in the future.
In this context, outages of this nature have led to questions as to whether current standards of event management and infrastructure are in line with these ambitions. For many, the incident is not just an isolated mistake, but a reflection of gaps that require urgent attention if the country hopes to compete on the global stage, on and off the field.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
11 Apr 2026 18:11 IST
