Teenager Aditi Swami, who made history in August by becoming India’s first individual World Archery Champion and the youngest titleholder in the modern era (since 2006) at the age of 17, has been nominated for the World Games’ athlete of the year award for 2023.
Shortlisted against representatives from across the disciplines included in the multisport event, the winner will be decided by public vote starting on 10 January 2024.
As well as the world title, Swami also won compound women’s team gold with India at the World Archery Championships and Asian Games, also finishing runner-up individually at the latter, and under-18 gold at the World Archery Youth Championships.
Aditi is the sixth archer – fourth compounder and third compound woman – to be nominated for the award in its 10-year history.
Last year‘s nominee, barebow champion Cinzia Noziglia, finished 15th after the public vote.
This year’s contest runs until the end of January, with only the top 10 passing an initial cut-off on 22 January. Members of the public can vote once per day.
World Games award nominees – archery
- 2013: Erika Jones, USA
- 2014: Sara Lopez, Colombia
- 2015: Sara Lopez, Colombia
- 2016: Mike Schloesser, Netherlands
- 2017: Lisa Unruh, Germany
- 2018: Sara Lopez, Colombia
- 2019: Sara Lopez, Colombia
- 2020: Not held (Morgan Lundin nominated for greatest of all time instead)
- 2021: Sara Lopez, Colombia
- 2022: Cinzia Noziglia, Italy
- 2023: Aditi Swami, India
