A coffee table book documenting the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Kohima, Nagaland, in June 2026 was released at the AFI Headquarters in New Delhi on September 21.
The publication was released by Dr Lalit K. Bhanot, President of the South Asian Athletics Federation. The AGM marked the first occasion that Nagaland hosted the annual general meeting of a national sports federation.
The event brought AFI leadership and representatives of Indian athletics to Nagaland and was described as a significant milestone in the State’s engagement with national sporting institutions.
Bhanot congratulated Nagaland Athletics, under the leadership of Abu Metha, for organising the AGM and thanked the people of Nagaland for their hospitality. He also acknowledged the support of the Nagaland Government under Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in facilitating the event.
Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister and Vice President of the AFI, expressed gratitude to Bhanot and the AFI leadership for their support and confidence in Nagaland.
“The AGM was a historic occasion for Nagaland as it was the first time that our State hosted the Annual General Meeting of a national sports federation,” Metha said.
He added that the successful hosting demonstrated Nagaland’s capacity to organise national-level sporting events and institutional engagements, stating that the State would continue to “raise the bar, break new ground and punch above our weight.”
Kohima Declaration adopted
A key outcome of the AGM was the signing of the Kohima Declaration, which is aimed at strengthening cooperation, institutional development and the modernisation of athletics in India.
Metha said the declaration and successful hosting of the AGM reflected the confidence placed in Nagaland by national sporting institutions.
He reiterated the State’s commitment to creating opportunities for young athletes, strengthening sports infrastructure and institutions, and hosting more national and international sporting events.
The coffee table book captures the proceedings, engagements and key moments of the Kohima AGM, serving as a record of the event and its significance in Nagaland’s sporting journey.
