Neeraj Chopra expands grassroots role with UBS Athletics Kids Cup ownership
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has announced a new chapter in his commitment to grassroots sport, becoming the co-owner of the UBS Athletics Kids Cup after serving as the programme’s ambassador for the past two seasons. His transition to co-owner reflects his vision of inspiring more children across the country to embrace sport and lead active lifestyles.
The UBS Athletics Kids Cup is one of India’s largest grassroots sports initiatives, designed to introduce children to sport through fun, inclusive and accessible competition. The programme has engaged more than 250,000 children across over 2,500 schools in five cities.
Neeraj Chopra said, “Over the last two seasons, I have seen the impact that UBS Athletics Kids Cup has created for children across schools. Every child deserves an opportunity to discover and showcase their talent, and becoming Co-owner felt like the natural next step because I truly believe in the vision we’re building together. Our ambition is to reach one million children and inspire many more youngsters to embrace sport. I look forward to sharing my own experiences with the kids, teachers and schools, because the more children play, the greater the chance of creating future champions.”
Daniel Schenker, CEO of Dspowerparts and co-founder of the initiative, welcomed the announcement.
“The strongest validation any programme can receive is when someone who knows the field better than anyone else chooses to invest personally in its future. Neeraj has seen the impact, met the children and understands the vision. His decision to become a Partner is a powerful signal of what we can achieve together in the years ahead.”
With Neeraj Chopra joining the initiative as co-owner, the programme now enters its next phase of growth, with the ambition of reaching one million children across India. Beyond introducing young people to sport, the initiative aims to instil confidence, discipline and lifelong participation in physical activity, helping build a stronger sporting culture from the grassroots up.
The UBS Athletics Kids Cup has rapidly grown into one of India’s leading grassroots sports programmes, creating opportunities for children to participate in fun, inclusive and accessible events. Nearly 50% of all participants have been girls, underlining the initiative’s commitment to making sport accessible to every child.
Despite an injury-interrupted campaign, Neeraj Chopra has remained among the world’s leading javelin throwers this season. The Olympic champion opened his 2026 campaign with a fourth-place finish at the Doha Diamond League, where his best throw of 85.69m also secured qualification for the Commonwealth Games. He then returned to Glasgow to claim the Commonwealth Games silver medal with an effort of 85.83m, describing the medal as especially meaningful after battling injuries for nearly 10 months.
Neeraj will next be in action in the Lausanne Diamond League on August 21 before heading to lead India’s campaign at Asian Games 2026.
– Ends
