The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is the national governing body for Athletics sport in India, and is responsible for conducting competitions in the country. It was formed in 1943.[1][2] It is affiliated to World Athletics and Asian Athletics Association (AAA).
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| Sport | Athletics |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | National |
| Abbreviation | AFI |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Affiliation | World Athletics |
| Regional affiliation | Asian Athletics Association |
| Headquarters | New Delhi, India |
| President | Adille Sumariwalla |
| Vice president(s) | Anju Bobby George |
| Secretary | Ravinder Chaudhry |
| Official website | |
| indianathletics | |
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It was formerly called as Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI). Anju Bobby George an Indian Olympian was appointed as the vice president of AFI.
History
Athletics Federation of India, then Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI), was formed in 1946 at the initiative of Prof. G.D. Sondhi and Maharaja Yadvindra Singh. G.D. Sondhi was its first President for a short while, resigning on 13 April 1950.
Competitions
AFI organises following national level Athletics competitions annually, periodically in the country:
- Indian National Open Athletics Championships
- Indian National Inter-State Senior Athletics championships
- National Federation Cup Senior Athletics Competition
- Indian Open Reacewalking competition
- Indian Open Javelin throw competition
- National Federation Cup under-20 Athletics championships
- National Javelin Throw Competition [note 1]
- North Zone Junior Athletics championship
- Indian open 400m competition
- South zone junior Athletics championship
- West zone junior Athletics championship
- East zone junior Athletics championship
- National youth Athletics championship
- National open athletics championship
- Indian open Under 23 Athletics competition
- National junior Athletics championship
- National Inter-district junior Athletics meet.
- Source - [4]
Controversies
AFI has been under pressure for the last several years due to doping scandals. The entire 4 × 400 m women's relay that won gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Games were tested positive for anabolic steroid.
The governing body's selection process for international teams have received public criticism. PU Chitra, Ajay Kumar Saroj and Sudha Singh were excluded from the 2017 World Championships in Athletics despite being eligible for entry by the International Association of Athletics Federations (the global governing body). Chitra lodged an appeal to the Kerala High Court in July 2017, though she was ultimately excluded as the court's request for inclusion was beyond the selection cut-off date. Commentator KP Mohan believed the right decision had been made to not include Chitra and several other Asian champions, given their low international ranking at that time, though he stated the controversy could have been avoided if the AFI had made its selection criteria clear before the start of the athletics season.[5]
Footnotes
See also
- Sports in India – Overview of sports in India