Neeraj Chopra Conferred With Honorary Lt Colonel Rank In Territorial Army

Subedar Major. Neeraj now gets a promotion in Territorial army. Read below for details.

Indian Armed Forces have handed Neeraj Chopra the Honorary Lt Colonel Rank In Territorial Army

Source : PTI

Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has been conferred the Honorary Lt Colonel rank in the Territorial Army. The official announcement of the decision has been made by the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, May 17.

"No 3 (E) dated 9 May 2025 in exercise of the powers conferred by Para 31 of the Territorial Army Regulations, 1948, the president is pleased to confer Honorary Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army on sEx-Sub Maj Neeraj Chopra, PVSM, Padma Shri, VSM, Village & Post Office Khandra, Panipat, Haryana with effect from 16 April, 2025," read the official statement of Gazette of India.

Neeraj Chopra joined the Indian Army in 2016, as a Naib Subedar, and was promoted to the rank of Subedar in 2021, and then to Major Subedar in 2022.

The Indian javelin thrower came to limelight after wining India's first-ever Olympic gold medal in Track & Field events, as he ousted his competitors in Men's Javelin throw at Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

The Indian athlete also holds the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (highest peacetime medal of the Indian Army), awarded to him in 2022 post his heroics in Tokyo.

Neeraj Chopra is arguably the greatest athlete India has produced, as at the age of 27, the javelin thrower has won a gold medal at Olympics, and has stamped his authority in the World Championships, and Diamond League.

Neeraj Chopra's First Action Of 2025

The 27-year-old had a troublesome 2024, where injuries hampered his participation in some competition. The after-effects inspite of the recovery were visible during his performance at the Paris Olympics, as Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem created history with a 93m throw to win the gold medal, and Neeraj Chopra had to settle for a silver medal.

The effort made him only the fourth Indian athlete to win multiple Olympic gold medals after Sushil Kumar, PV Sindhu, and Manu Bhaker.

After a long lay-off period, Neeraj Chopra finally returns to action, as he will be participating in the Doha Diamond League starting this Friday, May 16.