Former National Youth Coach Jerry Holness has been appointed as the new Head Coach of India’s 400m programme. Holness, a seasoned coach with vast international experience, will now lead the country’s women’s 400m and 400m hurdles teams as they prepare for major upcoming competitions.

The 65-year-old Holness brings a wealth of expertise to the role, being World Athletics Level 5 certified. His coaching resume spans across nations, having previously worked with the United Arab Emirates and the Cayman Islands national teams.

Holness will be responsible for conditioning India’s top female sprinters, including Olympic hopefuls like Hima Das, Subha Venkatesan, Rupal, Kiran Pahal, and Vithya Ramraj. His extensive background includes having mentored some of the world’s fastest sprinters including Olympic and World Championships gold medalists Elaine Thompson, Nesta Carter, Sherone Simpson, and Natoya Goule the 2019 Pan American Games 800m champion.

Based at the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) at the Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education (LNCPE) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Holness will focus on preparing the women’s 400m and 400m hurdles teams for upcoming competitions such as the Asian Championships, World Relays, and the prestigious World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.

His tenure will run through 2026, with the possibility of an extension following an evaluation of his performance.