Pune, 7th August 2021: Subedar Neeraj Chopra (23) of the Indian Army’s Southern Command today created history by becoming the first-ever Indian athlete to win a track and field gold at the Olympics with a throw of 87.58 m. Neeraj Chopra trained at the Army Sports Institute (ASI) Pune.

He hails from a farming family of Khandra village, Panipat district, Haryana. He was enrolled as a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) in the rank of Naib Subedar in the Indian Army on 26 August 2016. Neeraj was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2018 and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021 for his meritorious service.

Lt Gen JS Nain Army Commander, Southern Command, complimented the athlete on his historic performance and for making the Indian Army and the entire nation proud.