Beijing, Aug 19 (IANS): In a major boost to Indian athletics, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adille J. Sumariwalla has been elected to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) council at its ongoing Congress here on Wednesday.

Sumariwalla has been elected as one of the nine individual members of the council at the 50th Congress of the world athletics body, ahead of the IAAF World Athletics Championships.

Former Olympian Sumariwalla bagged 61 votes in the second round to get elected to the council. There were 39 candidates overall in the fray for the nine seats.

"This (election to the IAAF Council) is a tribute to the trust that India enjoys in the globe today. This will further inspire me to strengthen Indian athletics and take it to greater heights," Sumariwalla said in a statement on Wednesday.

I thank all the members of the athletics fraternity in India, my colleagues in the Athletics Federation of India for extending their indefatigable support for my campaign, my friends from all the member-nations who reposed their faith in me and the newly-elected IAAF President, Lord Sebastian Coe."