Laureus Brand Ambassador Neeraj Chopra, World Top Athlete of the Year

The world athletics body has nominated India's Neeraj Chopra as the Male World Athlete of the Year for 2023. Neeraj Chopra achieved this achievement when he was made the Ambassador of Laureus Brand on 11 October 2023 itself.

Male World Athlete of the Year:

• Neeraj Chopra has been shortlisted in the 11-member squad to win prestigious awards like the Olympics and World Championships, which will be announced by the world athletics body.
• This is the first time that Neeraj has made it to the list of nominees.

Who will Neeraj Chopra compete with?

• For this award, Neeraj Chopra will compete with America's shot put world champion Ryan Crouser, Sweden's pole vault star Mondo Duplantis and America's 100 m and 200 m world champion Noah Lyles.

List of players nominated for Athlete of the Year:

Recent Achievements of Neeraj Chopra:

• Chopra won the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023 with his season's best throw of 88.88 metres.
• Neeraj Chopra recently ended his stellar season with a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
• India finished 1-2 in a historic feat at the Asian Games as teenager Jena won the silver medal with a personal best throw of 87.54 and qualified for the Paris Olympics.
• Earlier, Neeraj had created history by becoming the first Indian to win gold in the World Athletics Championships with a sensational throw of 88.17 metres.

Neeraj Chopra named Laureus Ambassador:

• Current Olympic and world javelin throw champion Neeraj Chopra of India was named Laureus Ambassador on 12 October 2023.

Becomes second Indian after Yuvraj Singh to be named Laureus Ambassador:

• Chopra, 25, becomes the second Indian to be named a Laureus ambassador after former cricketer Yuvraj Singh was honored in 2017.

Laureus:

• Laureus is a global sports-based charity that works to improve the lives of young people.
• The Laureus organization is popular for its Sport for Good initiative, the World Sports Academy and Ambassador Programme, and the World Sports Awards.
• Neeraj Chopra pledged his support to the Laureus Sport for Good initiative, which supports over 300 global programs to eliminate inequality and discrimination in society.