In a significant transition within Indian athletics, Asian Games gold medalist and former shot putter Bahadur Singh Sagoo was elected unopposed as the president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Tuesday. Sagoo takes over from Adille Sumariwalla, who held the top position for over a decade.
A New Chapter for AFI
The 51-year-old Sagoo, who will serve a four-year term, has an illustrious sporting history. He clinched the men’s shot put gold at the 2002 Busan Asian Games with a throw of 19.03m and participated in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. With a lifetime best of 20.40m, Sagoo’s contributions to Indian athletics were recognized with the Padma Shri award.
His election was confirmed during the two-day Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the AFI. As a member of the AFI Athletes Commission, Sagoo emerged as the sole candidate after Anju Bobby George, the incumbent senior vice president, chose not to contest.
Leadership Updates
- Sandeep Mehta: Former senior joint secretary of the outgoing council, Mehta has been elected unopposed as the new AFI Secretary.
- Stanely Jones: Appointed as the Treasurer.
The elections for other posts were similarly uncontested, continuing a trend seen in the previous AGM in 2020.
Legacy of Adille Sumariwalla
Sumariwalla, who served as AFI president since 2012, was ineligible to contest under the National Sports Code. During his tenure, Indian athletics saw historic achievements, including Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and a silver at the Paris Games.
Sumariwalla’s influence extends beyond national borders, as he is currently a member of the executive board of World Athletics, a position of global significance.
Looking Ahead
Sagoo’s election marks the beginning of a new era for the Athletics Federation of India. With his extensive experience as an athlete and administrator, expectations are high for continued progress in Indian athletics on both domestic and international stages.
