'Golden Boy' Neeraj Chopra got a big gift... becomes Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army

Neeraj Chopra: Indian javelin thrower and double Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra has been conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. According to The Gazette of India, a weekly public magazine and an authorized legal document of the Government of India, Neeraj Chopra's appointment became effective from 16 April 2025. Also Read: MP BJP Minister gets flak for remarks on Col. Sofiya: High Court directs FIR against him

The Gazette of the Government of India said, 'Using the powers conferred under Para 31 of the Territorial Army Regulations 1948, the President is pleased to confer the rank of Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army to former Subedar Major Neeraj Chopra, PVSM (Param Vishisht Seva Medal), Padma Shri, VSM (Vishisht Seva Medal), Village and Post Office Khandra, Panipat, Haryana. This is effective from 16 April 2025.'

'Golden Boy' Neeraj Chopra got a big gift

Let us tell you that Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics (2020). With this, he became the first Indian to win gold in the track and field event of the Olympics. Then Neeraj won the silver medal in the Paris Olympics (2024). Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw at the Paris Olympics. At the same time, Anderson Peters of Grenada was successful in winning the bronze medal.

Joined Army in 2016

Neeraj Chopra, a resident of Haryana, was earlier a Subedar Major in the Indian Army. Neeraj first joined the Indian Army on 26 August 2016 as a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) in the rank of Naib Subedar. Then in the year 2021, he was promoted to the rank of Subedar. In 2022, he was promoted again and became Subedar Major.

Neeraj Chopra Conferred Honorary Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army

In a moment of pride for the nation, Neeraj Chopra, India’s iconic javelin thrower and two-time Olympic medalist, has been conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army.… pic.twitter.com/f1fykfx730

— Bureaucrats Media (@MBureaucrats) May 14, 2025

Neeraj Chopra becomes Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army

Neeraj Chopra will participate in the 71st Orlen Janusz Kusoczynski Memorial Competition in Chorzow, Poland on May 23 after the postponement of the NC Classic proposed next week in Bengaluru. Neeraj was to participate in the NC Classic along with some other star players from around the world and India and he was also to host this competition on May 24, but it was postponed due to the military confrontation between India and Pakistan.

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Summary

This competition to be held in Poland will be the third tournament of the season for Neeraj. He began his campaign in South Africa and will now take part in the Doha Diamond League on May 16, where he won the title in 2023 (88.67m) and finished second in 2024 (88.36m)