Two-time Olympic Medalist Neeraj Chopra Conferred With Honorary Rank Of Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army

Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra has been conferred with the Honorary Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. As per the Gazette of India, which is regarded as the authorised legal document of the Government of India, the notification came into effect from April 16.

A statement from Major General GS Choudhry, Joint Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, confirmed the development. “No 3 (E) dated 9th May 2025 in exercise of the powers conferred by Para -31 of the Territorial Army Regulations, 1948, the president is pleased to confer on Ex- Sub Maj Neeraj Chopra, PVSM, Padma Shri, VSM, Village & Post Office Khandra, Panipat, Haryana with effect from 16 April, 2025.”

Before Neeraj Chopra, former Indian captain MS Dhoni was also conferred with Honorary ranks in the Territorial Army. The javelin thrower was already enrolled in the Indian Army as a Naib Subedar back in August 2016 as a Junior Commissioned Officer. He was the recipient of the Khel Ratna and Vishisht Seva Medal and was also promoted to the rank of Subedar in 2021. In 2022, he also received the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India currently.

Neeraj will also take part in the 71st Janusz Kusocinski Memorial event in Poland. Neeraj grabbed a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and he was also set to host the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on May 24. But it has now been suspended, given the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan. Neeraj will come against Anderson Peters of Grenada, Germany’s Julian Weber and Marcin Krukowski at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial event.

Neeraj will also be participating in the Doha Diamond League on Friday, May 16.