Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra was on Wednesday conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in athletics and his contribution to Indian sports.
The ceremony, held in New Delhi, was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi. The official notification in The Gazette of India stated that the appointment took effect on April 16, 2025.
Neeraj joins an elite group of Indian sportspersons who have been honored with honorary ranks in the armed forces for bringing glory to the nation.
From Naib Subedar to Lieutenant Colonel
Neeraj Chopra began his journey with the Indian Army as a Naib Subedar on August 26, 2016. His consistent excellence in athletics quickly earned him accolades — including the Arjuna Award (2018), Khel Ratna (2021), and a promotion to Subedar the same year.
After his historic gold medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Neeraj was honoured with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and promoted to Subedar Major in 2022. He was also conferred the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, that same year.
Recent Performance and Setback
Despite his recent struggles, Neeraj continues to be the face of Indian athletics. At the World Athletics Championships 2025, he finished eighth with a best throw of 84.03 metres, ending his streak of 26 consecutive top-two finishes since 2021.
His compatriot Sachin Yadav performed impressively, finishing fourth with a throw of 86.27 metres, narrowly missing a podium finish.
Speaking about his performance, Neeraj said, “I had some back problems, but that’s life and sports. I’ll come back stronger.”
A Symbol of Inspiration
At 27, Neeraj Chopra’s journey from a small-town athlete to an Olympic champion and now an honorary Lieutenant Colonel stands as a symbol of discipline, perseverance, and national pride. His story continues to inspire millions of young Indians to chase excellence both in sports and service to the nation.
