Neeraj Chopra, often described as having a 'golden hand,' has made a global impact by securing a nomination for the Laureus 'World Breakthrough of the Year' award, a choice made by a panel of more than 1,300 sports journalists. His path to this nomination was paved by his historic achievement at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he became the first Indian field athlete to win an individual gold. At 24, he is one of six nominees vying for the title. The winner will be announced in April, determined by the votes of the Laureus World Sports Academy—a distinguished jury of 71 all-time sporting greats.
Indian boy with golden hand, Neeraj Chopra has turned the globe as he was nominated for the prestigious Laureus ‘World Breakthrough of the Year’ award by a panel of more than 1300 sports journalists. The champion javelin thrower became the first Indian field athlete to win an individual Olympic gold medal during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 24-year-old young sensation is one of the six nominees shortlisted for the award. The winner will be revealed in April, following a vote by the Laureus World Sports Academy, and the world’s ultimate sports jury made up of 71 greatest sporting legends of all time.
The other finalists include tennis stars Emma Raducanu (US Open champion) and Daniil Medvedev, football prodigy Pedri from FC Barcelona, triple jump world-record holder Yulimar Rojas, and Olympic freestyle swimming champion Ariarne Titmus.
As a champion of both the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, Chopra is just the third Indian athlete to be recognized by the Laureus awards. He joins a small, elite group that includes freestyle wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was the first Indian nominated in 2019, and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who took home an award in 2020 for the most significant sporting moment of the previous 20 years.
The race for the Laureus 'World Sportsman of the Year' is shaping up to be one of the most intense competitions ever. The shortlist features a powerhouse of talent, including Bayern Munich's prolific scorer Robert Lewandowski, NFL icon Tom Brady, world number one Novak Djokovic, Formula One champion Max Verstappen, and Olympic titans Caeleb Dressel in swimming and Eliud Kipchoge in marathon running.
Following his nomination, Neeraj expressed his deep gratitude and joy, noting that being recognized on a global stage is a significant honor. He reflected on the pride he felt while standing atop the Olympic podium for India, describing his journey as an eventful and rewarding one. The athlete emphasized how privileged he feels to represent his nation and achieve success at the highest international level.
Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics and a member of the Laureus Academy, admitted that Neeraj's historic performance in Tokyo was so moving it brought him to tears. Coe mentioned that while he naturally cheers for British athletes, his role as President of World Athletics requires total impartiality, as he represents over 200 different nations. He extended his heartfelt congratulations to Neeraj and expressed his hopes that the athlete would win the award.
He always wanted British athletes to do well. But after becoming the President he conceded that impartiality as he represents over 200 nations. Sebastian congratulated and wished Neeraj to win the award.