Neeraj
Chopra
Neeraj Chopra is an Indian track and field athlete specialising in the javelin throw and is currently ranked the best javelin thrower in the world. Hailing from Khandra village in Haryana, he rose to prominence in 2016 by winning Gold at the IAAF World U20 Athletic Championships with a record throw of 86.48 metres. His success continued at the 2018 Commonwealth and Asian Games, where he served as India’s flag bearer and won Gold at both events.
In 2021, Neeraj Chopra made history by winning Gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in track and field and the only Indian to win Gold on his Olympic debut. In the 2022 Diamond League, Neeraj Chopra won first place. He later secured silver at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and Gold at the 2023 edition in Budapest.
Neeraj Chopra is a Junior Commissioned Officer in the Indian Army, holding the rank of Naib Subedar in the Rajputana Rifles. He has received numerous accolades, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Vishisht Seva Medal, the Arjuna Award, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, and the Padma Shri.