Neeraj Chopra made history by becoming the first Indian to win an Olympic gold medal in any track and field discipline during the Tokyo Olympics
Neeraj Chopra (Pic: AFP/PTI)
Olympic champion and India’s foremost javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, has been bestowed with the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. The official recognition was published in The Gazette of India, dated May 9, with the rank effective from April 16, 2025.
According to the notification issued by Major General GS Choudhry, Joint Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, the appointment was made under Para-31 of the Territorial Army Regulations, 1948. “No 3 (E) dated 9th May 2025 in exercise of the powers conferred by Para -31 of the Territorial Army Regulations, 1948, the president is pleased to confer on Ex- Sub Maj Neeraj Chopra, PVSM, Padma Shri, VSM, Village & Post Office Khandra, Panipat, Haryana with effect from 16 April, 2025,” the statement read.
The official recognition published in The Gazette of India
Chopra has previously served in the Indian Army, having been inducted as a Junior Commissioned Officer (Naib Subedar) on August 26, 2016.
Chopra made history by becoming the first Indian to win an Olympic gold medal in any track and field discipline during the Tokyo Olympics. He followed this feat with a silver medal at the Paris Games, finishing behind his Pakistani rival Arshad Nadeem. In 2023, he further cemented his legacy by becoming the first Indian to win gold at the World Athletics Championships, having earned silver in the previous edition.
Following a strong start to the 2025 season, Chopra is now preparing for a rigorous competition schedule. After securing a win at the Potch Invitational Track Meet in South Africa with an 84.52m throw on April 16, he is set to return to action at the prestigious Doha Diamond League on May 16. He had claimed the title in Doha in 2023 with a throw of 88.67m and finished runner-up in 2024 at 88.36m.
Chopra will then travel to Chorzów, Poland, for the 71st ORLEN Janusz Kusociński Memorial on May 23, one of Europe’s oldest and most esteemed athletics competitions. The Polish event is classified as a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver level meet and features a lineup including two-time world champion Anderson Peters (Grenada), Julian Weber (Germany), and Polish record-holder Marcin Krukowski.
Chopra was also scheduled to host and compete in the NC Classic in Bengaluru on May 24, alongside global stars such as Thomas Röhler and Julius Yego. However, the event was postponed amid escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan.
Looking ahead, Chopra is expected to compete at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on June 24, an event he previously had to miss twice due to injury but hopes to contest successfully this year.
(With PTI inputs)
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