Neeraj Chopra, Parul Chaudhary win top honours at inaugural Indian Athletics Awards
At the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards held in New Delhi on June 20, 2026, javelin star Neeraj Chopra and steeplechase runner Parul Chaudhary were named the Best Male and Female Athletes of the Year for the 2025 season. The ceremony was organised by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presenting the honours. Shahnawaz Khan and Pooja were named the Best Emerging Athletes, while legends including P.T. Usha and Anju Bobby George received Lifetime Achievement Awards. The event celebrated India's strongest-ever phase in track and field.
Key Facts & Details
8 points- 1The inaugural Indian Athletics Awards were held in New Delhi on June 20, 2026.
- 2Neeraj Chopra and Parul Chaudhary won Best Male and Female Athlete (2025 season).
- 3The awards were organised by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
- 4Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presented the honours.
- 5Shahnawaz Khan and Pooja were Best Emerging Athletes; P.T. Usha and Anju Bobby George received Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Deep Dive
- +Neeraj Chopra is India's Olympic javelin gold (2021) and silver (2024) medallist.
- +Parul Chaudhary is a national-record-holding distance/steeplechase runner.
- +The AFI is the national governing body for athletics in India.
Exam Focus
Who were named Best Male and Female Athletes at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards in June 2026?
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Exam Relevance & Angle
Sports awards — recipient, award name, organising body and presenter — are standard exam hooks; the AFI's first Indian Athletics Awards with marquee names like Neeraj Chopra make this high-recall material across all GA papers.
Target Exams
Background & Context
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is the national governing body for track-and-field athletics in India, affiliated to World Athletics. Neeraj Chopra, the country's most decorated track-and-field athlete, won Olympic javelin gold at Tokyo 2021 and silver at Paris 2024, transforming the sport's profile in India. Parul Chaudhary is a leading distance and 3000m steeplechase runner who has set national records and won Asian Games medals. The inaugural Indian Athletics Awards institutionalise recognition for the sport, similar to dedicated awards in cricket and other disciplines, and reflect India's rising medal tally in international athletics over the 2025 season being honoured.
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Must KnowTest Yourself
1 / 2At the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards (June 2026), who were named Best Male and Female Athletes?
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