New Delhi, May 18 -- In a landmark domestic feat, four of India's fastest sprinters recently shattered the men's 4x100m national record, which had stood unbroken for 15 years. Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Amlan Borgohain and Manikanta Hoblidhar clocked a blistering 38.69 seconds at the India Open Relays. All represented Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RF) in Chandigarh, and the new national record now stands in the name of RF. The feat, though, wasn't just about raw speed; it also symbolised a shift in Indian athletics. For the first time, Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has opened domestic competitions to private sports organisations, allowing entities like RF and JSW Sports to field their own teams. RF is the non-profit arm of Reliance Industries, and JSW Sports is backed by the steel giants. They train their athletes at elite state-of-the-art high-performance centres. Domestic meets this season have seen participation from state associations, public sector units, corporate-backed foundations, and even Sports Authority of India's NCoE centres (Indian Relays meet) - making for a diverse structure. The new model could significantly reshape the landscape of Indian athletics. The AFI believes it'll not only elevate the level of competition but also compel states to upgrade their facilities and increase support for their athletes. "We wanted to try something different this Olympic cycle," says AFI spokesperson and former president Adille Sumariwalla. "Athletes can now train wherever they choose and compete in domestic events. This should also motivate states to step up." This change comes in the wake of India's underwhelming performance at Paris Olympics where only Neeraj Chopra managed to shine, winning a second consecutive Olympic medal. In the changing scenario, RF athletes have broken three national records - 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. Gurindervir clocked 10.2s to set a new 100m record, Animesh smashed the 200m mark with 20.4s, and the quartet of Gurindervir, Animesh, Amlan, and Manikanta combined for the relay record. These achievements come after years of planning at RF's high-performance centres in Odisha, and now in Mumbai, focussed on sprinters. James Hillier, RF's athletics director, has played a key role. Hillier has been preparing elite athletes at RF since 2019 and has worked closely with Indian athletics. "A lot of planning and effort has gone into this. It's exciting times for Indian sprinting. Back in 2019, a 10.5s sprint could win you the 100m. Now, 10.45s may not get you to the final. That's significant progress in 5-6 years," Hillier told HT. The ripple effect is being felt across the circuit. "Even athletes whom we don't coach have started pushing the boundaries. There's a belief that 'yes, we can run 10.2s.' That mindset didn't exist before." At the Federation Cup, Pranav Pramod Gurav of Railways won the 100m in 10.27s, with Animesh (10.32s) and Manikanta (10.35s) close behind. The momentum carried into the UAE Grand Prix, where the men's 4x100m team clocked 38.76s to set a new meet record. Animesh continued his stellar run, timing 20.45s in the 200m. It's an encouraging build-up to the Asian Championships in South Korea this month where Indian sprinters are eyeing a podium finish. Given their form, all four sprinters from RF are part of India's relay team, and Hillier has been appointed to lead the squad. "Opening up domestic events was a smart move by AFI," he said. Hillier has also been credited with backing talents like Jyothi Yarraji, who has risen to prominence and clinched a silver in the 100m hurdles at Asian Games. "There's no shortage of talent in India, but it hasn't always been developed properly. A huge part is mental. Many athletes grow up believing they're not good enough. We've challenged that mindset and changed it through our training programme." However, Hillier, with his experience of working in India, feels grassroots need to be developed. Though his focus is elite performance, Hillier emphasises that a strong foundation is vital. "If you teach these things correctly, it would not require fixing such problems at the elite level."...