AFI to host inaugural Indian Athletic Awards on June 20 in New Delhi
New Delhi, June 11
The Athletics Federation of India will host the inaugural edition of the Indian Athletic Awards on June 20 in Delhi, to recognise excellence in Indian athletics.
The awards have been conceptualised as a platform to honour current and former athletes, coaches, technical officials, mentors, state associations, sponsors, and all other stakeholders whose contributions have played a vital role in India's growing success on the global athletics stage, AFI said in a release.
The ceremony will honour excellence across 10 award categories, including Lifetime Achievement Awards, Best Athlete (Male & Female), Best Coach, Best Technical Official, Best State Association and Best State Supporting Athletics.
AFI president Bahadur Singh Sagoo said: "Indian athletics has witnessed a lot of growth over the last few years, with our athletes delivering strong performances on the global stage. The Indian Athletic Awards are a celebration of not only medal winners, but also the coaches, officials, mentors, associations and institutions that work tirelessly behind the scenes to strengthen the sport in the country. We look forward to honouring individuals who continue to inspire the next generation of athletes."
Most of India's leading current and former athletes are expected to be part of the event, making it a significant gathering for the Indian athletics fraternity and a celebration of the sport's rapid rise in the country.
AFI Senior Vice President Anju Bobby George said: "This awards ceremony serves to honour the commitment and resilience demonstrated at all levels of Indian athletics. From promising newcomers to established champions and their vital support networks, every effort plays a crucial role in fostering a robust sporting culture. Indian athletics is poised for an exhilarating chapter, and these awards will pay tribute to the individuals who are instrumental in shaping this journey."
Olympic and World Championships medallist Neeraj Chopra said, "To boost the morale and confidence of young Indian athletes, initiatives like the Indian Athletic Awards are extremely important. Recognising and celebrating the hard work of athletes, coaches and support staff motivates the entire sporting ecosystem and inspires the next generation to dream bigger and perform better for the country."
The awards to be presented during the event include-
Best Male Athlete of the Year: 2025
Best Female Athlete of the Year: 2025
Best Coach of the Year: 2025
Life-time Achievement Athletics Award (3 Awards) Best State Association of the Year: 2025
Best Technical Official of the Year: 2025
Best State Supporting Athletics
Organization supporting Athletics
Partner supporting Athletics
— IANS
Reader Comments
About time! We've been winning medals at Commonwealth and Asian Games but the support staff and coaches never get the limelight. Lifetime Achievement Awards for unsung heroes like those who trained athletes in small towns would be perfect. Just hope the ceremony is streamed live so fans across India can celebrate too.
Excellent initiative but please ensure rural athletes are included. Many talented kids from villages never get recognition. Also, why only 10 categories? Can include Best Young Athlete (U-18) and Best Paralympic athlete too. Parul Chaudhary and Jyothi Yarraji deserve special mention for 2025 performances.
Big step forward. But honestly, after the recent doping controversies, AFI needs to focus more on clean sports culture before celebrating. My concern: will these awards become another photo-op or will genuinely help in grassroots development? Hope the prize money is substantial for coaches and technical officials.
This is so inspiring! As a college athlete, knowing that even technical officials and state associations will be honored gives me hope for my own journey. 🙏 Neeraj Chopra's words about motivating the next gen hit home. @AFI please consider adding a category for 'Best University/College' to encourage institutional support.
Great to see India embracing this structured recognition for athletics! I follow Indian track events closely - the growth since Tokyo has been remarkable. The Lifetime Achievement Awards are a classy touch. My only suggestion: please have an independent jury to avoid any federation bias. Wishing the
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