Neeraj Chopra and Parul Chaudhary bag top honors at Indian Athletics Awards
Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra and steeplechase star Parul Chaudhary were named sportsperson and sportsperson of the year at the Indian Athletics Awards on Saturday, as the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) celebrated the country’s best performances from a memorable 2025 season.
Fresh from his return to competition in Doha Diamond League, Receiving the men’s award, Chopra described the recognition as one of the most special honors of his career.
“This award is very close to my heart. There are old and new generations of athletes here. I am very happy to have received the award before them,” said Chopra.
#WATCH | Athelete Neeraj Chopra won the Male Athlete of the Year award from the Athletics Federation of India.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presented the award to Neeraj Chopra. pic.twitter.com/kJNt3q9mOV— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2026
THE GREAT RETURN OF CHOPRA
The 28-year-old had flown in from Doha earlier on Saturday after taking part in his first event of the 2026 season. Chopra recorded a best throw of 85.69m in his third attempt to place fourth at the Doha Diamond League.
The event marked his return after a long layoff due to injury. Chopra was recovering from a back injury sustained ahead of the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo and trained in Switzerland after rehabbing in Turkiye.
Despite missing out on the podium in Doha, Chopra comfortably cleared the AFI qualifying standard of 82.61m for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
STAR CAMPAIGN 2025
The award capped off a great 2025 season for the javelin star, who finally broke the 90m mark with a throw of 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League.
Chopra also topped the Paris Diamond League rankings and won the NC Classic in Bengaluru, further cementing his status as India’s biggest athletics star.
After the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Japan later this year, Chopra remains one of India’s strongest medal hopes.
PARUL GETS REWARDED
Parul Chaudhary was named the Athlete of the Year after another impressive season that cemented her position as India’s leading distance runner.
The national record holder in the women’s 3000m steeplechase has become one of the most consistent performers on the international stage and has been recognized for her achievements over the past year.
USHA HONORED
Indian Olympic Association President and legendary sprinter PT Usha received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the ceremony.
Initiated by AFI, the Indian Athletics Awards aim to recognize athletes, coaches, technical officials, mentors, state associations and other stakeholders who have contributed to the growth of athletics in the country.
The inaugural edition featured 10 categories, including Best Male Athlete, Best Sportswoman, Best Coach, Best Technical Official, Best State Association and Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
20 Jun 2026 23:37 IST