Neeraj Chopra was born on December 24, 1997, in Khandra, a small village in Haryana. Growing up in a farming family, Chopra’s journey into athletics began at a young age.
His first international medal was a silver at the Youth Olympics Qualification in Bangkok in 2014.
Chopra became the first Indian to win gold in a track and field event at the Tokyo Olympics 2021 and India’s second individual Olympic gold medalist after Abhinav Bindra.
For his achievement in the Tokyo Olympics 2021, Chopra was honoured with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in 2022.
He made history by becoming the world champion in the men’s javelin throw at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
In 2016, Neeraj Chopra was inducted into the Indian Army in the sports quota at the rank of Naib Subedar. He was promoted to the rank of Subedar in 2018 after winning the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold.
Chopra’s journey from a village in Haryana to the Olympic podium remains an inspiration to millions, embodying the spirit of sportsmanship and determination.