PM Modi Engages with Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra

PM Modi Meets Neeraj Chopra

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed two-time Olympic medalist and former world champion Neeraj Chopra along with his wife at his residence. During their meeting, PM Modi shared insights on various topics, particularly focusing on sports. He later posted on X, stating, "Had a wonderful interaction with Neeraj Chopra and his wife, Himani Mor at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg earlier today. We discussed various issues, including sports! @Neeraj_chopra1."

Honorary Rank in Territorial Army

In October, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh officially awarded Neeraj Chopra the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army during a ceremony held in South Block, New Delhi.

Chopra's Major Achievements

Neeraj Chopra made history as the first Indian athlete to clinch an Olympic gold medal in track and field at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. He further solidified his legacy by winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in 2023, marking him as the first Indian world champion in athletics. Additionally, he has earned multiple gold medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Diamond League events. His personal best throw of 90.23 meters, achieved in 2025, is a significant milestone in Indian sports.

Recap of the 2025 Season

Neeraj's impressive streak of finishing in the top two positions across 26 events came to an unexpected halt with an 8th-place finish during his title defense at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. Despite this setback, he had a remarkable 2025 season, winning the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic at Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru in July with a throw of 86.18 meters.

Event-wise Performance

Neeraj began the season triumphantly at the Potch Invitational in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in April. He followed this with a notable second-place finish at the Doha Diamond League in May, where he achieved a personal milestone by throwing over 90 meters for the first time, with a distance of 90.23 meters. He continued his success with a second-place finish at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland later that month, and secured back-to-back victories at the Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike, with throws of 88.16 meters and 85.29 meters, respectively. In late August, he maintained his podium presence by finishing second with a throw of 85.01 meters at the Diamond League final in Zurich.