Neeraj Chopra is one of India’s most celebrated athletes and the only Indian to win an athletics gold medal at the Olympics. He achieved this historic feat in the men’s javelin throw at Tokyo 2020 and added a silver medal to his accolades at Paris 2024. Recognizing his achievements, Neeraj was awarded the Padma Shri in 2022.
Born in Khandra village, Panipat, Haryana, Neeraj comes from a farming family. His father, Satish Kumar, is a farmer, and his mother, Saroj Devi, is a homemaker. He has two sisters and had a pampered childhood, with his family ensuring he didn’t have to do household chores or work in the fields. In September 2021, after his Olympic triumph, Neeraj fulfilled a dream by taking his parents on their first flight.
Nicknamed ‘sarpanch’ by his college friends for wearing a formal kurta gifted by his father, the name has stuck with him ever since. Neeraj initially studied at Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) College in Chandigarh but left to join the Indian Army. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree.
Standing 6 feet tall, Neeraj joined the Indian Army in 2016 as a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) after winning gold at the Junior World Championships and South Asian Games. He was later promoted to Subedar in 2018 following his victories at the Asian and Commonwealth Games. In 2022, he received the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for his excellence in sports.
Neeraj’s achievements extend beyond the Olympics, with gold medals at the World Junior Championships, World Championships, Asian Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, South Asian Games, and the Diamond League title. His rapid rise to fame has seen him endorse brands, appear on TV, and feature on magazine covers, solidifying his status as a sporting icon.
