India’s golden boy and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has been formally conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army’s Territorial Army, marking yet another proud moment in the athlete’s remarkable career. The ceremony took place at the South Block in New Delhi on October 22, 2025, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh bestowed the insignia upon Chopra in the presence of Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and senior officers of the Indian and Territorial Armies.
A Soldier and a Sports Icon
Neeraj Chopra joined the Indian Army in 2016 as a Naib Subedar after his early breakthrough in international athletics at the Junior World Championships. Over the years, he rose through the ranks — promoted to Subedar in 2018 following his Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medals, and later to Subedar Major in 2022. The Rajputana Rifles regiment, with which he serves, has proudly supported his dual journey as both a soldier and a global sports champion.
During the ceremony, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded Chopra as “an epitome of perseverance, discipline, and patriotism,” adding that his achievements have not only uplifted Indian athletics but also reflected the spirit of the Armed Forces. President Droupadi Murmu had earlier approved his honorary commission on April 16, 2025, recognizing his contribution to Indian sports and national pride.
An Extraordinary Sporting Career
Born on December 24, 1997, in Khandra village, Panipat district, Haryana, Neeraj Chopra has scripted some of the most iconic moments in Indian sporting history. He became the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic gold in track and field at the Tokyo 2020 Games, followed by a silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics and a gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. His other victories include multiple golds at the Asian Games (2018, 2023), Commonwealth Games, and Diamond League events, consolidating his position among the world’s best javelin throwers.
In 2025, he achieved his personal best throw of 90.23 metres, setting a new Indian record and further solidifying his status as one of the sport’s modern legends.
Awards and Recognition
Over the years, Neeraj Chopra’s excellence has been honoured both in sports and by the Indian military establishment. He is a recipient of the Arjuna Award (2018), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2021), and Padma Shri (2022). The Indian Army has also recognised his contribution by conferring the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal — two of the highest peacetime honours for service and excellence.
Symbol of National Pride
Neeraj’s induction as Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary) places him in an elite league of Indian athletes — such as M.S. Dhoni and Abhinav Bindra — who have been accorded similar military distinctions for their exceptional contribution to Indian sport. This honour, as Rajnath Singh noted, represents the unity of sporting excellence and service to the nation — where Chopra’s discipline, leadership, and patriotism continue to inspire generations across fields.
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The occasion also reaffirms the Army’s tradition of recognising individuals who embody India’s highest ideals of performance and integrity — making Lt Col (Hony) Neeraj Chopra not just a national sports icon but also a symbol of dedication and Indian pride
