Athletics Federation of India (AFI) President Adille J Sumariwalla has extended an invitation to International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) chief Sebastian Coe to visit India for the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships to be held in Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) from July 6-9, 2017.
The AFI President, who was in London to attend the 209th IAAF Council Meeting held on April 12-13, 2017, said that IAAF chief has accepted his invitation and it will be an honour for AFI to host the IAAF President for the second time.
Coe, who won 1,500m gold at 1980 Moscow Olympics and the 1984 Los Angeles Games, earlier visited India in October, 2015. It was his first visit to a particular country after taking charge as head of the IAAF in August 2015.
Sumariwalla said, “I spoke to IAAF President on the side-lines of the Council Meeting and informed him that Asian Athletics Championships 2017 will be held in the beautiful city of Bhubaneshwar in Odisha in July. I requested him to be our guest and attend the Championships. Asia’s topmost athletes will compete in the Championships and his presence will certainly motivate them to give their best on the field. He is the double Olympic champion himself and athletes look up to him as a role-model.”
A member of prestigious IAAF Council, Sumariwalla, also presented a paper on Age Manipulation at the Council Meeting. The AFI President is Chairman of the IAAF Age Manipulation Committee.
