Indian sports administrator Adille J. Sumariwalla, Vice President of World Athletics and former President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), was awarded the prestigious Asian Athletics Leadership Gold Pin at the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) Congress held in Gumi, South Korea, on 25^th May, 2025. The award was presented by General Dahlan Al Hamad, President of the Asian Athletics Association, in recognition of Sumariwalla’s outstanding contribution to the growth and leadership of athletics across Asia. The ceremony took place just ahead of the Asian Athletics Championships, which commenced on 27^th May, 2025.

This honour marks yet another milestone in Sumariwalla’s distinguished career. In August 2023, he made history by becoming the first Indian to be elected as one of four Vice Presidents of World Athletics, the global governing body for the sport. His role has since amplified India’s presence and influence in the international athletics arena.

A stalwart of Indian athletics, Sumariwalla previously served as the President of AFI and currently acts as its spokesperson. His leadership tenure saw significant improvements in infrastructure, athlete development, and India’s performance on the global stage. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Sumariwalla expressed gratitude for the recognition.

The Asian Athletics Leadership Gold Pin is a rare distinction, given to individuals who have made a lasting impact on the sport in the region. Sumariwalla’s relentless advocacy for athlete welfare, governance reform and international collaboration has earned him respect far beyond Indian borders. The spotlight on Sumariwalla’s achievements serves as a proud moment for the Parsi community as well for Indian sport – a reminder of the nation’s growing stature on the world athletics stage.