Neeraj Chopra, Conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the Indian Army

Neeraj Chopra, India’s most celebrated track and field athlete, was conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the Indian Army on Wednesday. The 27-year-old Indian athlete was presented the insignia at a ceremonial event in New Delhi, with the Indian Army recognising his exceptional achievements in sports.

Neeraj Chopra, the Indian javelin‑thrower and Olympic medallist, has been conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Hony Lt Col) in the Territorial Army (TA), a part of India’s defence

The official notification by the Ministry of Defence states that the rank is effective from 16 April 2025.

  • Neeraj Chopra is not just an athlete: he has a long association with the Indian Army. He was enrolled as a Junior Commissioned Officer in the Army (rank of Naib Subedar) on 26 August 2016. IANS News+1

  • His sporting achievements:

    • Gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in javelin throw — first Indian athlete in track & field to win Olympic gold. The Indian Express+1

    • Silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Indian Express+1

    • World Athletics Championship gold (2023) and a personal best throw over 90 metres in 2025. Business Today+1

    • The honorary rank is a recognition of his contribution to Indian sport and his service / affiliation with the defence forces. As the Economic Times commentary puts it:

      “The notification was issued … in recognition of his outstanding achievements and exemplary service to the nation.”

 

His age as given (27 years) is consistent with his birth date being 24 December 1997.

The javelin ace joined the Indian Army in 2016 and has risen steadily through the ranks.

Neeraj Chopra, India’s most celebrated track and field athlete, was conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the Indian Army on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old Indian athlete was presented the insignia at a ceremonial event in New Delhi, with the Indian Army recognising his exceptional achievements in sports. Neeraj Chopra’s official appointment to his new rank was on April 16, while the pipping ceremony was held on Wednesday.

Neeraj joined the Indian Army in 2016 as a Naib Subedar (a junior commissioned officer) in the 4 Rajputana Rifles, following gold-medal performances at the Junior World Championships and South Asian Games. He has been serving in the Territorial Army.

The javelin throw athlete was promoted to Subedar in 2018 after winning the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold and rose steadily through the ranks to Subedar Major in 2022.

Born in 1997 in Khandra village in Haryana’s Panipat, Neeraj Chopra has won every major title possible in javelin throw.

He claimed India’s first Olympic gold medal in athletics at Tokyo 2020 and followed it up with a silver at the Paris 2024.

Neeraj also scripted history by becoming India’s first-ever senior athletics world champion after he won gold at Budapest 23 following a silver at Oregon 22, which had ended the country’s 19-year-long wait for a medal at the World Championships.

The Indian ace has also secured titles at the Asian Games (2018, 2023), Commonwealth Games (2018), Asian Athletics Championships (2017), and Diamond League. His personal best of 90.23 metres, set in 2025, is a national record.

Neeraj won the Arjuna Award in 2018 and received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for 2021, bagging two of the most prestigious titles at India’s National Sports Awards.

In 2022, he also received the Padma Shri, India’s highest civilian honour and Param Vishisht Seva Medal for excellence in sports from the Indian military.

Source: ANI / Google News