Neeraj Chopra Conferred Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Rank in Territorial Army, Appointment Effective from April 16

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In a stirring tribute to sporting excellence and patriotic pride, India's golden boy of athletics, Neeraj Chopra, has been conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army.

The appointment, as confirmed by The Gazette of India, came into effect on 16 April 2025, adding yet another feather to the cap of the trailblazing javelin thrower. The announcement, made official via notification No. 3 (E) dated 9 May 2025, invoked Para-31 of the Territorial Army Regulations, 1948.

"The President is pleased to confer on Ex-Sub Maj Neeraj Chopra, PVSM, Padma Shri, VSM... the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel," read a statement issued by Major General GS Choudhry, Joint Secretary, Department of Military Affairs. As per report on sportstar.

Hailing from Khandra village in Panipat, Haryana, Chopra's journey from rural India to Olympic glory has been nothing short of remarkable. Already a double Olympic medallist and World Champion, Neeraj's star continues to rise-both on the field and in the annals of national service.

Neeraj's association with the Indian Army began on 26 August 2016, when he was inducted as a Naib Subedar. A year later, he received the Arjuna Award, and in 2020, was honoured with the prestigious Khel Ratna and Vishisht Seva Medal. His steady progression saw him rise to Subedar in 2021 and Subedar Major the following year. His crowning glory in the military came in 2022 when he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the highest peacetime honour in the Indian Armed Forces.

The 2022 Padma Shri awardee has not only carried the tricolour across international podiums but has also served as a unifying force of national pride and discipline-a trait the Army duly recognised with this honorary commission. Chopra now joins a rarefied list of Indian sportspersons, including cricketer MS Dhoni and shooter Abhinav Bindra, to receive such a distinction.

Even as he dons this new mantle, Chopra's eyes remain fixed on the runway. The 26-year-old is set to open his competitive season on Friday at the Doha Diamond League, the first of several international events where the reigning Olympic champion will once again test his mettle. He is scheduled to appear at the 71st Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland on 23 May and will look to make his much-awaited debut at the Ostrava Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic on 24 June, after injury setbacks kept him out in the past.

Chopra was also slated to headline the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru on 24 May, a meet that now stands postponed indefinitely due to heightened India-Pakistan border tensions.

Still, the honour bestowed upon him this week encapsulates what Neeraj Chopra has come to represent-resilience, excellence, and a steadfast commitment to the nation. Whether in uniform or in competition, he remains a figure of immense inspiration, standing tall with a javelin in one hand and the spirit of India in his heart.