Which Indian sportsperson was appointed as a United Nations Messenger of Peace in the year 2001?

Introduction / Context:
The United Nations sometimes appoints distinguished individuals as Messengers of Peace to help promote its ideals and programmes. In 2001, an Indian sportsperson received this honour. This question tests knowledge of both sports personalities and their wider contributions beyond the playing field.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The role is United Nations Messenger of Peace.
• The appointment year is 2001.
• Options include Prakash Padukone, Vishwanathan Anand, Sachin Tendulkar and Vijay Amritraj.
• We assume that the appointment was publicly recorded and used in general awareness material.

Concept / Approach:
Vijay Amritraj, a former Indian tennis star, has long worked as a commentator, humanitarian and promoter of peace. In recognition of his efforts, the United Nations appointed him as a Messenger of Peace in 2001. Although the other names are legendary in their respective sports, this specific UN title is associated with Amritraj.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify which of the listed sportspersons is widely known for humanitarian and diplomatic work in addition to sporting achievements.Step 2: Vijay Amritraj fits this description, having been active in social causes and peace promotion.Step 3: Recall that in 2001, the United Nations officially appointed him as a Messenger of Peace, a fact mentioned frequently in biographies and interviews.Step 4: The other options, such as Prakash Padukone, Vishwanathan Anand and Sachin Tendulkar, are great champions but are not linked to this specific UN appointment in 2001.Step 5: Therefore the correct answer is Vijay Amritraj.

Verification / Alternative check:
Checking standard general knowledge references on Indian sports icons confirms that Vijay Amritraj has served in this United Nations role. Many profiles emphasise that he combined his tennis career with peace and charity work. The absence of similar references for the other names in relation to the Messenger of Peace title confirms that they are not correct choices for this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Prakash Padukone, is a former world class badminton player but does not appear in lists of UN Messengers of Peace. Option B, Vishwanathan Anand, is a world chess champion and recipient of many honours, but this particular UN appointment is not among them. Option C, Sachin Tendulkar, has been associated with many social initiatives and brand ambassadorships but was not the one appointed as Messenger of Peace in 2001. These names are added to test careful recall.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may choose Sachin Tendulkar or Vishwanathan Anand simply because they are extremely famous, without recalling whether they hold this exact UN title. Another pitfall is to confuse different United Nations roles, such as goodwill ambassadors for agencies, with the formal Messenger of Peace designation. To avoid mistakes, connect the year 2001 and the title Messenger of Peace specifically with Vijay Amritraj.

Final Answer:
The Indian sportsperson appointed as a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2001 was Vijay Amritraj.