Tokyo Gold Medalist Neeraj Chopra nominated for 2022 Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award

London: 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.

Chopra, who won his gold medal in the men's javelin in Tokyo, is one of the only two Indians to have won an individual Olympic gold, the other being Abhinav Bindra in air rifle in 2008.

At the age of 23, Chopra made his Olympic debut and won the gold medal with a throw of 87.58 metres in his second attempt.

"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," said Chopra.

"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," he added.

He is only the third Indian athlete to be nominated for a Laureus Award, after wrestler Vinesh Phogat in 2019 and cricketer 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.

Tennis players Emma Raducanu (UK) and Daniil Medvedev (Russia), FC Barcelona's Pedri, jumper Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela) and swimmer Ariarne Titmus (Australia) complete the list of nominees for the Breakthrough of the Year Award.

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.

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.

The full list of nominees:

Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award: Tom Brady (USA), Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Caeleb Dressel (USA), Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya), Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Max Verstappen (Netherlands).

Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award: Ashleigh Barty (Australia), Allyson Felix (USA), Katie Ledecky (USA), Emma McKeon (Australia), Alexia Putellas (Spain), Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jamaica).

Laureus World Team of the Year award: Argentina Men's Football Team, Barcelona Women's Football Team, Italy Men's Football Team, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, Milwaukee Bucks.

Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award: Neeraj Chopra (India), Daniil Medvedev (Russia), Pedri (Spain), Emma Raducanu (UK), Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela), Ariarne Titmus (Australia).

Laureus World Comeback of the Year award: Simone Biles (USA), Sky Brown (UK), Mark Cavendish (UK), Tom Daley (UK), Marc Marquez (Spain), Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands).

Laureus Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award: Diede De Groot (Netherlands), Marcel Hug (Switz), Shingo Kunieda (Japan), Jetze Plat (Netherlands), Susana Rodriguez (Spain), Sarah Storey (UK).

Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year award: Italo Ferreira (Brazil), Alberto Gines (Spain), Yuto Horigome (Japan), Carissa Moore (USA), Momiji Nishiya (Japan), Bethany Shriever (UK).

Laureus Sport for Good award: Ich Wil Da Rauf! (Germany), Juca pe Cagna (Italy), Kick 4 Life (Lesotho), Lost Boyz Inc (USA), Monkey Magic (Japan). (UNI)