Neeraj Chopra turns 28, carrying India’s flag at the top of World Sport

India’s golden boy of athletics, Neeraj Chopra, turned 28 on Wednesday, marking another milestone in a career that has redefined Indian track and field. From a small village in Haryana to the pinnacle of global sport, the two-time Olympic medallist continues to stand as one of India’s most celebrated sporting icons.

Born on December 24, 1997, in Khandra village of Haryana’s Panipat district, Chopra scripted history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field at the Tokyo Games in 2020. He followed it up with a silver medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and a gold at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, making him India’s first-ever world champion in athletics.

Over the years, Chopra has built a glittering medal collection, winning gold medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and several Diamond League events. His personal best throw of 90.23 metres, achieved in 2025, remains a landmark moment in Indian sporting history.

The year, however, brought a rare disappointment when Chopra finished eighth while defending his world title at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September, ending his remarkable streak of 26 consecutive top-two finishes. Despite that setback, his overall 2025 season remained highly successful.

Chopra began the year with a win at the Potch Invitational in South Africa and created history at the Doha Diamond League in May, where he crossed the 90-metre mark for the first time. He also secured second-place finishes at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland and the Diamond League final in Zurich.

The highlight of his domestic season came in July, when Chopra won the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru, a competition named after him with a best throw of 86.18 metres. He further added Diamond League victories in Paris and Ostrava, underlining his consistency at the highest level.

Beyond the field, Chopra’s contribution to the nation has also been formally recognised. In October, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conferred on him the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army at a ceremony in New Delhi, attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and senior military officials.

Chopra has been honoured with some of India’s highest awards, including the Padma Shri, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal, cementing his status as a national hero both on and off the field.