New Delhi: Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has been conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army, further cementing his status as one of India’s most decorated sportspersons. The official appointment, as noted in The Gazette of India, took effect from April 16, 2025. A statement issued by Major General GS Choudhry, Joint Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs, confirmed the honor was bestowed under Para-31 of the Territorial Army Regulations, 1948.
Chopra, who made history as the first Indian to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics at the Tokyo Games in 2021, now joins the ranks of iconic Indian athletes who have received similar military honors. Former Indian cricket captains MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev, as well as 2008 Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra, were previously conferred honorary ranks in the Territorial Army. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was honored with the rank of Group Captain in the Indian Air Force in 2010.
Neeraj’s association with the Indian Army dates back to August 26, 2016, when he was inducted as a Naib Subedar. His exceptional achievements earned him the Arjuna Award in 2018 and the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2021. He was promoted to Subedar in the same year and later to Subedar Major following his receipt of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) in 2022 — the highest peacetime military honor in India.
On the professional front, Chopra continues to be a dominant force in global athletics. With the NC Classic in Bengaluru postponed due to rising military tensions between India and Pakistan, Chopra will next compete at the prestigious ORLEN Janusz Kusociński Memorial in Chorzów, Poland, on May 23. The World Athletics Continental Tour silver event is Poland’s oldest running track and field meet and among the longest-standing in Europe.
In Chorzów, Chopra is set to face off against a strong field, including two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada, Germany’s Julian Weber, and Poland’s national record holder Marcin Krukowski. Other Polish contenders include Cyprian Mrzyglod and Dawid Wegner.
This will be Chopra’s third event of the season. He began his 2025 campaign in South Africa and will compete in the Doha Diamond League on May 16, where he clinched the title in 2023 and finished second in 2024. Notably, Peters will also be competing in Doha, alongside other top javelin throwers such as Germany’s Thomas Rohler (2016 Olympic gold medallist) and Kenya’s Julius Yego (2015 world champion).
Neeraj Chopra’s latest honor as Lieutenant Colonel highlights not only his contributions to Indian sport but also his ongoing connection to national service — a true embodiment of excellence both on and off the field.
