Neeraj Chopra returns to his roots to inspire young athletes

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For Neeraj Chopra, Haryana is where his sporting journey began. The Olympic champion will return to the state on Saturday to interact with more than 350 young participants at the Haryana City Final of the UBS Athletics Kids Cup at the Sports University of Haryana in Rai, aiming to inspire the next generation of athletes.

“Haryana will always be special to me because this is where my journey in sport began,” Chopra said while talking to a section of the media ahead of the event.

A champion javelin thrower, Chopra’s journey from Haryana to the Olympic podium gives the grassroots athletics initiative a strong connection with the region. He is scheduled to present awards to the winners, as the programme seeks to encourage children from diverse backgrounds to participate in sport and discover their potential.

Chopra, who served as the programme’s ambassador for two years, became a co-owner of SD Sports India, the company behind the initiative, earlier this year.

Sameer Chothani, Head of UBS India Service Company, said Chopra’s role as co-owner added significance to the programme, which aims to promote physical activity, confidence, discipline and healthy habits among children.

Daniel Schenker, co-founder of UBS Athletics Kids Cup and co-owner of SD Sports India, said the long-term goal was to create regular athletics opportunities for children in Haryana and the Delhi-NCR region. “Haryana is here to stay,” he added.

Launched in Mumbai in 2023, the programme has expanded to Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad. Organisers said 250,000 children had participated across its cities during the ongoing third season.

The Haryana final builds on school-level competitions, with the broader aim of widening access to athletics and helping identify young talent. For Chopra, whose rise in javelin throw began in Haryana, the event offers an opportunity to connect his own sporting roots with the ambitions of a new generation.