Since 2017, the Olympic medalist headed the 400-meter relay teams and individual athletes from India.
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Galina Bukharina, a former Soviet Union 100m relay bronze medalist, has parted ways with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) after serving as the 400-meter coach of India for five years. Since 2017, the Olympic medalist headed the 400-meter relay teams and individual athletes from India. Galina’s contract was extended in January of this year through the Asian Games 2022, which was eventually moved up to the following year due to COVID-19.
After India’s performance in the 4X400m relay events at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships 2022, she was under pressure. As a result of which, she opted to not continue her stint. The AFI acknowledged the situation and stated that the separation was mutual. Even the federation wasn’t planning to continue with her as the coach had already turned 77 in this year’s February.
Following the Asian Championships in Bhubaneswar in July 2017, Galina became the coach of the Indian team. The highlights of her coaching tenure included the Asian and Commonwealth Games 2018. India went on to win gold in the mixed 4X400m relay and silver in the men’s team 4X400m relay at the Asian Games 2018 during her period. In 2018, she guided Hima Das to silver at the Asian Games and gold at the World U-20 Championships. However, India found it difficult to replace Hima after she switched to shorter sprints as a result of lower-back issues that had an impact on her performances in 2020 and 2021.
Read more: Indian Athletes who have been caught for doping in 2022
The future of both Indian women’s and men’s relay teams looks uncertain. While half of the women’s contingent is injured, a few have tested positive for doping which can be regarded as one of the darkest years for India in Athletics. Although the men’s team gave a spirited performance at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, setting a new Asian record (3:00:25), the performance of the athletes at the World Championships 2022 was sub-par. A majority of them are also out of form.
Galina began coaching in the Soviet Union and spent around 17 years working with the national system. Prior to her retirement in 2011, she won numerous NCAA competitions while coaching for Texas State University-San Marcos, formerly Southwest Texas State University.
