Best athletes

World Athletics Vice President Adille: Neeraj Chopra and Parul Chaudhary were presented the Best Athlete Awards, male and female, respectively, at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards here on Saturday evening. Shahnavaz Khan and Pooja were named the Best Emerging Athletes at a glittering ceremony.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya gave away the awards instituted by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). A galaxy of dignitaries, including World Athletics Vice President Adille J. Sumariwalla, Korottage Bimal Prasanna, President of Sri Lanka Athletics, and Mohamed Tholal, Sports Commissioner of the Maldives, were on hand to celebrate excellence across the Indian athletics ecosystem.

“Indian athletics has witnessed unprecedented growth over the last decade, with our athletes delivering world-class performances on the biggest stages. The Indian Athletics Awards are a fitting tribute to the individuals and institutions driving this progress. These awards will further strengthen India's sporting ecosystem,” Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said.