Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Neeraj Chopra nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards

Neeraj Chopra, India’s first-ever winner of an Olympic athletics gold medal, has been selected as one of the six Nominees for the 2022 Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award.

Neeraj is only the third Indian athlete to be nominated for a Laureus Award, after wrestler Vinesh Phogat in 2019 and cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who won the Laureus Sporting Moment Award 2000-2020, which marked the emotional moment during the 2011 ICC World Cup when his team carried him on their shoulders in a lap of honour after India’s win.

A panel of more than 1,300 of the leading sports journalists and broadcasters in the world have selected the Nominees in each of seven categories for this year’s Laureus World Sports Awards. The winners will be revealed in April, following a vote by the Laureus World Sports Academy, the world’s ultimate sports jury made up of 71 of the greatest sporting legends of all time.

Chopra, who won his gold medal in the men’s javelin in Tokyo, is one of only two Indians to have won individual Olympic gold, the other being Abhinav Bindra in air rifle in 2008. At the age of 23, he was making his Olympic debut in Tokyo. He won the gold medal with a throw of 87.58 metres on his second attempt.

A special feeling to be nominated along with some exceptional athletes for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award.

Congratulations to @DaniilMedwed, @pedri, @EmmaRaducanu, @TeamRojas45 and Ariarne Titmus on their nominations. #Laureus22 pic.twitter.com/16pUMmvQBE

— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) February 2, 2022

In 2011, while Tendulkar was celebrating that victory, Chopra had just started attending a gym under pressure from his family to improve his fitness. While there, he saw athletes practising and he developed an interest in the javelin. At the 2016 World Under-20 Championships, he won the gold medal and his career was off and running.

Chopra said: “I’m delighted to be nominated for this Laureus Award and it’s a great honour for me to be recognised in the wider sporting world for what I achieved in Tokyo. From being a kid in a small village in rural India who only took up sport to get fit, to standing on top of an Olympic podium, it’s been quite an eventful journey so far. I feel privileged to be able to represent my country and win India medals at the global stage, and now to have this recognition from Laureus and be considered alongside such exceptional athletes is a really special feeling.”

Also nominated with Chopra for the Breakthrough Award are Britain’s Emma Raducanu, who became a global tennis sensation when she won the US Open at the age of 18, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who won the men’s title at Flushing Meadows, FC Barcelona’s football prodigy Pedri, aged 19, voted best young player at the Ballon d’Or, Yulimar Rojas, who broke the 26-year-old triple jump world record, and swimmer Ariarne Titmus, aged 20, who twice beat champion Katie Ledecky at 200 and 400m in Tokyo.

The full list of Nominees

Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award

Tom Brady (USA) American Football the greatest NFL quarterback, he won a record seventh Super Bowl

Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Tennis won three Grand Slams in 2021 to take his total of career wins to 20

Caeleb Dressel (USA) Swimming outstanding male swimmer in Tokyo with five Olympic gold medals

Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) Athletics became third person in history to win back-to-back Olympic marathons

Robert Lewandowski (Poland) Football surpassed Gerd Muller’s record of 40 goals in a season for Bayern

Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Motor Racing won his first Formula One World Championship in 2021

Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award

Ashleigh Barty (Australia) Tennis world No.1, won Wimbledon, her second career Grand Slam

Allyson Felix (USA) Athletics surpassed Carl Lewis as the most decorated track and field US Olympian

Katie Ledecky (USA) Swimming won 800 and 1,500 metres freestyle golds in Tokyo, plus two silver medals

Emma McKeon (Australia) Swimming won four gold and three bronze in Tokyo, the most by an individual

Alexia Putellas (Spain) Football Barcelona captain; won Ballon d’Or and UEFA Women’s Player of Year

Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jamaica) Athletics won Olympic 100 and 200 metres and 4x100m relay

Each year, the Laureus Sport for Good Award recognises a community sports-based programme that has helped to improve the lives of young people and bring communities together. Five inspirational and transformational programmes have been shortlisted by a specialist selection panel.

Due to the ongoing limitations and uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2022 Awards will build on the success of Laureus’ 2021 ‘virtual’ Awards. The showcase event will continue to celebrate the achievements of athletes and the inspirational stories from the world of sport.