Neeraj Chopra Receives Best Male Athlete Award at Indian Athletics Awards 2025

Neeraj Chopra Honored at Indian Athletics Awards

On Saturday, renowned Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was awarded the title of ‘Best Male Athlete of the Year 2025’ during the first-ever Indian Athletics Awards ceremony.

Chopra, who clinched gold at the Tokyo Olympics and later secured a silver medal in Paris, expressed that this recognition is particularly meaningful to him, especially as it was presented in the company of athletes from various eras.

“Yeh award dil ke nazdik hai (This award is very close to my heart). It’s wonderful to be here with both the old and new generations of athletes. I am thrilled to receive this award in their presence,” Chopra remarked after arriving from Doha earlier that day.

Having competed in the Doha Diamond League the previous night, the 28-year-old achieved a throw of 85.69m in his third attempt, finishing fourth in his season debut.

Chopra has been on the mend from a back injury he sustained before the World Championships in Tokyo in September 2025. The Doha event marked his comeback following an eighth-place finish at the World Championships. He has been training in Switzerland since May 25 after a rehabilitation period in Turkiye.

Despite the challenges, Chopra successfully surpassed the 82.61m qualification standard set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

As India’s leading contender for medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this July-August and the Asian Games in Japan in September-October, provided he stays injury-free, Chopra had an impressive 2025 season.

He made headlines by breaking the 90m barrier for the first time with a throw of 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League, finishing second, while also topping the Paris Diamond League standings and winning the NC Classic in Bengaluru.

The Best Female Athlete of the Year award was awarded to Parul Chaudhary, who holds the national record in the 3000m steeplechase.

Additionally, the ceremony honored legendary sprinter and Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Indian Athletics Awards, initiated by the AFI, aim to acknowledge the contributions of athletes, coaches, technical officials, mentors, state associations, and other stakeholders in the advancement of the sport.

The inaugural event included ten categories, such as Best Male and Female Athlete, Best Coach, Best Technical Official, Best State Association, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.