Copyright indiatoday
This special report covers Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra being conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army. The ceremony, held in New Delhi, was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi. On receiving the honour, Chopra stated, 'This is more than an honour - it is a responsibility towards my country'. The recognition celebrates his exceptional achievements in athletics and his role as an inspiration to the youth. Chopra, who joined the army as a Naib Subedar on August 26, 2016, has been lauded as an icon of perseverance and national pride. This places him in a select group of Indian sports figures, including Abhinav Bindra and MS Dhoni, to receive such an honorary rank in the armed forces.
