Adille J. Sumariwalla is an Indian former sprinter and sports administrator. A national-level athlete in the 1980s, he later became one of the most prominent figures in Indian athletics administration, serving as President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and as a Council Member of World Athletics, the global governing body for the sport.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Adille J. Sumariwalla |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Sport | Athletics (sprints) |
| Primary event | 100 metres |
| Major appearance | Olympic Games, Los Angeles 1984 |
| Administrative roles | President, Athletics Federation of India; Council Member, World Athletics |
Sumariwalla belongs to the Parsi community and is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He emerged as a competitive sprinter during the late 1970s and early 1980s, a period when Indian sprinting was beginning to gain greater institutional support through national meets and federation-led training camps.
Sumariwalla specialised in the 100 metres and represented India at the international level during the 1980s. He competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, taking part in the men's 100 metres event. His participation placed him among a small group of Indian sprinters to have appeared at the Olympic Games in that era.
After retiring from competitive athletics, Sumariwalla transitioned into sports administration. He took on senior roles within the Athletics Federation of India and was elected its President, leading the federation through a period of expansion of domestic competitions, junior development programmes, and increased Indian participation in continental and world championships.
At the international level, he was elected to the Council of World Athletics (formerly known as the IAAF), making him one of the few Indians to serve on the governing body of a major Olympic sport. In this capacity he has been associated with policy decisions on competition structure, governance and athlete welfare.
Sumariwalla has also served on committees of the Indian Olympic Association and has been involved in selection and policy-making concerning Indian athletes' participation in the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
Sumariwalla's career trajectory — from Olympic-level sprinter to head of the national federation and a member of the global governing body — is often cited as a notable example of an Indian athlete moving into sustained leadership in international sports governance. Under his administrative tenure, Indian athletics has seen heightened attention to long-distance running, javelin throw and women's sprints, alongside structural reforms within the AFI.