Former Asian Games champion shot putter Bahadur Singh Sagoo has been elected unopposed as the new president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) during the body’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Nagaland’s Abu Metha was also elected Vice President.
The 51-year-old Bahadur Singh will serve a four-year term, succeeding Adille Sumariwalla, who served as AFI president for three consecutive terms. Bahadur Singh was the sole candidate for the position after incumbent senior vice president Anju Bobby George withdrew from the race. Elections were not required for the remaining posts.
A Padma Shri awardee, Bahadur Singh Sagoo represented India at the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympics. He clinched the gold medal in shot put at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan with a throw of 19.03m. His personal best of 20.40m was achieved at a meet in Kyiv in 2004.
Sandeep Mehta, a senior official from the Delhi unit and outgoing executive council’s senior joint secretary, was elected unopposed as the new AFI secretary. Telangana’s Stanely Jones was chosen as the new treasurer, while former middle-distance runner Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, who won bronze in the women’s 800m and 1500m at the 1998 Asian Championships, was appointed joint secretary.
Outgoing AFI president Adille Sumariwalla, 67, who held the position since 2012, was ineligible for re-election under the National Sports Code. Sumariwalla will continue to serve as a member of the executive board of World Athletics.
During Sumariwalla’s tenure, India achieved a historic milestone by winning its first Olympic gold medal in athletics when Neeraj Chopra triumphed at Tokyo 2020. Neeraj also secured a silver medal at Paris 2024 and is the reigning world champion in javelin throw.
Nagaland’s Abu Metha elected as VP of AFI
Nagaland’s Abu Metha has been elected Vice President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). The Nagaland Athletics Association announced this in a press release today. The association noted that this marks Metha’s second tenure in the AFI, as he previously served as Associate Vice President. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has congratulated Metha on his election.