New Delhi, October 22: An Olympic medal winning javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.
While interacting with Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary) Neeraj Chopra and his family members, the Defence Minister described him as an epitome of the Indian spirit of perseverance, patriotism and striving for excellence.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally conferred the glittering insignia of the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army to star javelin thrower and two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra during a piping ceremony at South Block on Wednesday.
Rajnath Singh said that Neeraj Chopra epitomizes the highest ideals of discipline, dedication and national pride. He is an inspiration not only to the sports world but also to the armed forces. Chief of Army Staff General Dwivedi and other senior officers of the Indian Army and Territorial Army were present on the occasion.
Born on December 24, 1997, in Khandra village, Panipat district, Haryana, Neeraj Chopra has brought pride to the nation and the armed forces through his remarkable achievements in international athletics. He enlisted in the Indian Army in 2016 and served in the Rajputana Rifles. This star javelin thrower made history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
He continued his impressive run by winning a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and a gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. He has also won several gold medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Diamond League events. His personal best throw of 90.23 meters (2025) is a milestone in Indian sports history.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements and exemplary service to the nation, Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary) Neeraj Chopra was conferred an Honorary Commission in the Territorial Army by President Draupadi Murmu on April 16 this year. He has previously been awarded the Padma Shri, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.