Neeraj Chopra becomes co-owner of UBS Athletics Kids Cup initiative

Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has taken a bigger role in grassroots sports by becoming the co-owner of the UBS Athletics Kids Cup, a nationwide initiative aimed at encouraging children to take up athletics and lead active lifestyles.

Chopra, who has served as the programme's ambassador for the past two seasons, said his decision to become a co-owner was driven by his belief in expanding opportunities for young athletes across the country.

The UBS Athletics Kids Cup is one of India's largest grassroots athletics programmes, having engaged more than 2.5 lakh children across over 2,500 schools in five cities.

"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," Chopra said.

"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," he added.

Daniel Schenker, CEO of Dspowerparts and co-founder of the initiative, welcomed Chopra's decision, saying it reflects the athlete's confidence in the programme and its long-term vision.

"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," Schenker said.

With Chopra joining as co-owner, the initiative plans to expand its reach to one million children across India while continuing to promote confidence, discipline and lifelong participation in sport.

The programme has also placed a strong emphasis on inclusivity, with nearly half of all participants so far being girls, reinforcing its goal of making athletics accessible to children across the country.