India's javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra has been bestowed with the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, a significant recognition of his service to the nation. The announcement, made by the Ministry of Defence in the Gazette of India, took effect on April 16, 2025. This honor comes just before Chopra commences his season at the Doha Diamond League on May 16.
Chopra's association with the Indian Army began in 2016 when he joined as a Junior Commissioned Officer with the rank of Naib Subedar. Over the years, his dedication and achievements led to promotions, including Subedar in 2021, following his historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. He was also awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) in 2022, a high peacetime military honor. In 2024, he was promoted to Subedar Major. Now, as Lieutenant Colonel, Chopra joins a select group of athletes who have been recognized for their contributions to the nation, both on and off the field.
The official notification, dated May 9, 2025, stated that the President was pleased to confer the Honorary Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army on Ex-Sub Maj Neeraj Chopra. This reflects not only his sporting accomplishments but also his commitment to serving India.
Neeraj Chopra's achievements in athletics are unparalleled in Indian history. He is the first Indian track and field athlete to win an Olympic gold medal, which he achieved at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He further cemented his legacy by winning a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, making him the first Indian with both a gold and silver medal in individual Olympic events. Besides his Olympic success, Chopra has won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games (2018), Asian Games (2018, 2023), and the World Championships (2023), marking his dominance in the sport.
Following this recognition, Neeraj Chopra is set to begin his 2025 athletics season at the Doha Diamond League on May 16. This will be his third appearance at the Doha Diamond League. He won the event in 2023 with a throw of 88.67m and finished second in 2024 with 88.36m. He expressed his gratitude for the support he receives from the Indian community in Qatar. Besides Neeraj Chopra, Kishore Jena, Parul Chaudhary, and Gulveer Singh will also represent India at the Doha Diamond League 2025.
After the Doha Diamond League, Neeraj is scheduled to compete at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland on May 23 and the Ostrava Golden Spike meet in Czechia on June 24.
