In a remarkable development for Indian athletics and the armed forces, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has been awarded the Honorary Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. The formal announcement was made by the Ministry of Defence through the Gazette of India, with the honor officially commencing on April 16, 2025.
Neeraj Chopra, who enlisted in the Indian Army in 2016 as a Naib Subedar, has been a dedicated member of the armed forces for nearly a decade. His journey within the military has seen him climb the ranks, achieving promotion to Subedar in 2021 and subsequently to Subedar Major following his historic victory at the Tokyo Olympics. His contributions have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Padma Shri, and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).
The official notification, released on May 9, 2025, articulated, “In exercise of the powers conferred by Para 31 of the Territorial Army Regulations, 1948, the President is pleased to confer the Honorary Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army on Ex-Sub Maj Neeraj Chopra, PVSM, Padma Shri, VSM, Village & Post Office Khandra, Panipat, Haryana, with effect from 16 April, 2025.”
Neeraj Chopra is celebrated as India’s greatest ever track and field athlete, having etched his name in history by winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This accomplishment makes him the first Indian athlete to secure both gold and silver in individual Olympic events, and he is only the second Indian, after Abhinav Bindra, to clinch gold in an individual Olympic event.
At just 26 years of age, the javelin thrower has dominated his sport, securing every significant title, including:
– World Championship Gold (2023)
– Asian Games Gold (2018, 2023)
– Commonwealth Games Gold (2018)
With this latest military honor, Neeraj joins the distinguished ranks of Indian sportspersons who have been acknowledged for their significant contributions to the nation, both in athletic arenas and beyond.
Looking ahead, Neeraj is scheduled to kick off his 2025 athletics season at the Doha Diamond League on May 16, marking his first competitive appearance since claiming silver in Paris.
