Neeraj Chopra Receives Best Male Athlete Award at AFI Ceremony
Neeraj Chopra Honored at AFI Awards
New Delhi [India] - On Saturday, Neeraj Chopra, a two-time Olympic medalist and former world champion in javelin throw, was awarded the title of 'Best Male Athlete of the Year 2025' during the inaugural Athletics Federation of India (AFI) Awards ceremony.
The award was presented by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Neeraj recently kicked off his 2026 season by qualifying for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, achieving the necessary mark at the Doha Diamond League held on Friday.
While accepting the award, Neeraj encouraged the youth to remain dedicated and patient in their pursuits. He addressed the common perception that European and American athletes are superior, asserting that Indians possess the potential to excel in sports.
He stated, “My advice is to work diligently and be patient. Don’t rush your progress; you have a long career ahead. Avoid injuries, heed your team's advice, and trust in your abilities. We often believe that athletes from Europe or America are stronger, but I am convinced that we have the capability to achieve great things. Our performances are proving this, and with faith and patience, remarkable outcomes will follow.”
Reflecting on his return to competition in Doha, he remarked, “It felt great to compete again after such a long time, and I managed a decent throw. There’s still a lot of the year left, and I aim to improve.”
In his first event of the 2026 season, Neeraj finished fourth at the Doha Diamond League. After an eight-month hiatus due to a back injury, he had a rough start with a foul throw but eventually recorded a distance of 85.69 meters.
Previously, he had placed eighth at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships, where he was unable to defend his title, achieving a best throw of 84.03 meters.
Additionally, Parul Chaudhary, an Indian steeplechase runner, was awarded 'Best Female Athlete of the Year 2025'.
Last month, she narrowly missed breaking her own national record in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase at the Shanghai Diamond League 2026, clocking in at 9:12.84 and finishing seventh.
Parul was just 0.38 seconds shy of her national record, which she set during her gold medal performance at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi last year. She had previously improved the record to 9:12.96 but settled for a silver medal.