Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has been appointed to the Athletics Federation of India’s (AFI) Athletes Commission, a nine-member body chaired by long-jump legend Anju Bobby George.
The Athletes Commission aims to advocate for the rights of athletes, represent their interests in AFI governance structures, and provide critical input on competition regulations. It also serves as a platform for direct discussions between athletes and the federation.
The newly formed commission ensures balanced gender representation, with six women and three men. Notably, Neeraj Chopra is one of the three male members, alongside steeplechaser Avinash Sable and the newly-elected AFI president Bahadur Singh Sagoo.
Among the women members are Olympians and celebrated athletes such as Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, Krishna Poonia, MD Valsamma, Sudha Singh, and Sunita Rani. The increased representation of women – up from four in the previous term to six in this cycle – underscores AFI’s commitment to gender parity in sports governance.
Membership of the commission is reserved for athletes who have excelled at the Asian or Commonwealth Games, or have participated in World Championships or the Olympics. The current members will serve a four-year term from 2025 to 2029.
Bahadur Singh Sagoo, who chaired the previous commission, will now contribute as a member under the leadership of Anju Bobby George.
This restructuring reflects AFI’s ongoing efforts to strengthen athlete representation and improve governance frameworks.
