LR Bureau
Neeraj Chopra Conferred Honorary Rank of Lieutenant Colonel by Indian Army
New Delhi, October 22 — Olympic gold medalist and javelin star Neeraj Chopra has been conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the Indian Army, in recognition of his extraordinary achievements and contributions to Indian sports.
The 27-year-old athlete received the insignia during a ceremonial pipping event held in New Delhi on Wednesday. His official appointment to the honorary rank was made earlier on April 16.
Chopra began his journey with the Indian Army in 2016, joining as a Naib Subedar in the 4 Rajputana Rifles. Following his gold medal wins at the Asian and Commonwealth Games, he was promoted to Subedar in 2018, and later elevated to Subedar Major in 2022.
A native of Khandra village in Panipat, Haryana, Neeraj Chopra has etched his name in history as India’s first Olympic gold medalist in athletics, achieving the feat at the Tokyo 2020 Games. He followed this with a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics and clinched India’s first-ever senior World Championship gold in Budapest 2023, ending a 19-year medal drought. His silver at the Oregon 2022 World Championships further cemented his global standing.
Chopra’s dominance spans multiple prestigious competitions, including gold medals at the Asian Games (2018, 2023), Commonwealth Games (2018), Asian Athletics Championships (2017), and the Diamond League. His personal best throw of 90.23 metres, recorded in 2025, remains the national record.
His decorated career is further highlighted by numerous accolades, including the Arjuna Award (2018), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2021), Padma Shri (2022), and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal — a testament to both his sporting excellence and his service within the military framework.
With this honorary rank, the Indian Army has paid tribute to one of its most distinguished soldier-athletes, whose achievements continue to inspire and elevate India’s profile on the global stage.
