Unique ‘performance graded races’ competition to be rolled out at Reliance Foudation’s Odisha High Performance Centre

Athletes from the Reliance Foundation Odisha Athletics High Performance Centre (HPC) in Bhubaneswar can have the chance to take part in a uniquely designed competitors collection that follows the idea of “Performance Graded Races.” The competitions start on October 24, adopted by additional occasions on October 28, October 31, and a remaining occasion on November 8. In a major departure from follow, races at these competitions can be graded solely on timings achieved by athletes, no matter their age or intercourse.

“It allows athletes to experience the most competitive race possible and will hopefully help the athletes focus more on their own best individual performances rather than getting distracted in personal rivalries or just winning their respective age group race,” explains Head Coach James Hillier. “We would rather an athlete finishes 5th in a personal best performance in a high-quality race than win easily with a poor performance in a weak race.”

“We wanted to create a competition programme that puts the athlete and their needs at the forefront,” Hillier provides. “Our athlete focussed competitions aim to give our competitors the best conditions and environment to run fast. Our sprint events will always be run with prevailing wind conditions and our middle-distance events will have pace-makers. We also rank our races based purely on performances and therefore it is possible for athletes of different ages and sex to compete in the same race if they are of similar abilities.”

Hillier experimented with an identical idea with a hurdles particular competitors within the UK earlier than he got here on board as Head Coach on the RF Odisha HPC, and says the mannequin was “extremely well received” by the athletes that participated. In the primary yr, with the affect of the Covid-19 pandemic nonetheless being felt, the competitors can be restricted to athletes from the HPC academy and monitoring cohort. However, Hillier and his group plan to broaden the competitors from subsequent yr and past to athletes exterior the HPC.

The intention is to construct what Hillier describes is a forward-thinking “Athlete-centric model” that may revolutionise the whole competitors course of in India. From 2021 onwards, athletes from Odisha and throughout India can be inspired to take part as soon as they’ve met the minimal efficiency minimize off required within the lowest graded race. Hillier can be eager to safe participation from elite athletes as particular invitees. The expectation is future occasions can be held over three nights – a Sprints fest, Endurance fest, and Hurdles fest.

“These competitions will add value and more opportunities for athletes and we are confident they will see huge value for the athletes in what we are doing,” says Hillier. “Ultimately, we feel strongly that these competitions will help offer more competitive opportunities for athletes in India and go some way to improving athletic standards in the country.”

The HPC, a collaborative effort of the Odisha Government and the Reliance Foundation, presently has 29 athletes underneath its wing break up between the monitoring cohort and the academy. Athletes within the cohort are recognized as being a most of 5 years away from profitable a nationwide stage medal. 20 such athletes from throughout Odisha are presently a part of the monitoring cohort and reside on the Bhubaneswar state sports activities hostel.

Athletes within the academy group are recognized at varied levels of growth from being two years away from profitable a nationwide stage medal to these with established worldwide credentials. There are 9 such athletes (6 from Odisha) on the HPC academy presently, who dwell on the Kalinga stadium. In Hillier’s estimation, on the finish of those 4 competitions, with loads of time within the interim intervals to analyse performances, these athletes will make vital progress.

“I expect all athletes to benefit from these competitions, though in different ways,” Hillier elaborates. “ For some of our younger athletes in the monitoring cohort the emphasis will be more on competition learning and how to compete whilst some of our older athletes from the HPC Academy will be looking for some performance improvements.”

“There is enough time between the competitions to get rest and also reflect on improving any small things that will help the athletes perform even better in the next competition,” he provides. “We have scheduled 4 competitions over a 2 week period which allows our athletes to train to try and peak during this window. The aim is for our athletes to perform at their best in the final competition. Therefore, we will be working with our athletes to reflect and improve their performances after each competition.”

Hillier and his group have additionally earmarked the competitors as a template to scout gifted athletes that may be a part of the HPC sooner or later, from Odisha in addition to different states.

“We expect our athletes’ performances will validate the huge improvements that they have made during the course of the training year,” concludes Hillier. “Our testing data gives us optimism that our athletes will perform well. These competitions will also give the coaches and the whole performance team a good insight into how different athletes respond to the pressure of competition.”

To make sure the competitions are carried out in a wholly protected setting, strict Covid protocols can be in place.