Neeraj Chopra Awarded Honorary Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army
Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has been conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. The Indian Army awarded this title in recognition of his exceptional achievements in athletics and unwavering commitment to the nation.
The Ministry of Defence announced this honor on May 14, with the appointment effective from April 16. Previously, Neeraj served in the Indian Army as a Subedar, a position he was promoted to in 2018. He initially joined the Army in 2016 as a Naib Subedar.
Before Neeraj, other sporting legends like former Indian cricket captains MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev, and Olympic shooter Abhinav Bindra have also received honorary ranks in the Territorial Army.
Upcoming Competition: Doha Diamond League
Neeraj Chopra is set to compete in the Doha Diamond League on Friday, May 16. In the previous season, he secured second place with a throw of 88.36 meters. He later became the 2023 champion with a best throw of 88.67 meters.
Other Indian athletes participating include:
- Javelin thrower Kishore Jena
- Middle-distance runner Gulveer Singh
- Runner Parul Chaudhary
Double Olympic Medalist
Neeraj Chopra is currently ranked World No. 2 in javelin throw. He is the only Indian to have won medals in two consecutive Olympic Games — a Gold in Tokyo 2020 and a Silver in Paris 2024. He has also secured gold medals in global events such as the World Championships, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games.