Bahadur Singh Sagoo set to be elected as AFI president unopposed

Asian Games gold medallist Bahadur Singh Sagoo is set to be elected as the president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) unopposed during the national federation's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Chandigarh on Tuesday, according to media reports 

Bahadur Singh will replace 67-year-old Adille Sumariwalla, who decided to step down from the post he has been holding since 2012. Sumariwalla was no longer eligible to contest the elections under the existing National Sports Code.

Sumariwalla’s reign saw Indian athletics reach a new height, with javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra becoming the first Indian track and field athlete to win Olympic medals – gold and silver - in Tokyo in 2021 and Paris in 2024.

In the Asian Games as well, Indian athletes made a constant rise. From winning 13 medals in 2014 and 20 in 2018, including eight gold, to a rich haul of 29 medals - six gold, 14 silver and nine bronze – at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, Indian athletes made a rapid rise.

Sumariwalla is currently the vice president of World Athletics.

51-year-old Bahadur Singh won a gold medal in shot put in the 2002 Busan Asian Games and competed at the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics.

He will be elected to the top post unopposed in the elections to be held during the January 7-8 AGM in Chandigarh.

Bahadur Singh is the only remaining candidate in the fray after incumbent senior vice president Anju Bobby George opted out of the race for the top post. Anju will, however, remain as the senior vice president for a second term.

Remaining Office-bearers to be elected unopposed 

For the remaining posts of office-bearers, there will also be no elections, just like what happened during the last elections in 2020.

Delhi unit's top official Sandeep Mehta will be elected unopposed as the AFI Secretary. He pulled out of the contest for the post in the last elections.

Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, who won 800m and 1500m gold in the 1998 Asian Games, will be the joint secretary and Stanely Jones of Telangana will be elected the treasurer.

Sudha Singh, who won 3000m steeplechase gold in the 2010 Asian Games, former 100m national record holder Rachita Mistry, Harjinder Singh and Priyanka Bhanot - daughter of AFI Planning Commission Chairman Lalit Bhanot – will be among the new executive committee members.