The country’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will be awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) on the occasion of Republic Day. Neeraj Chopra is currently posted as Subedar in 4 Rajputana Rifles. He created history by winning the gold medal in the Olympic Games held in Tokyo, Japan last year. He is the first player to get India Olympic gold in athletics.
These awards will be given to 384 people this year by President Ram Nath Kovind on the occasion of Republic Day. Apart from Neeraj, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) chief Lt Gen KJS Dhillon will also be awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. Neeraj Chopra has also been awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. He has also been given the Arjuna Award.
The 384 awards announced on the occasion of 73rd Republic Day include 12 Shaurya Chakra, 29 Param Vishisht Seva Medal, 4 Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, 53 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and 13 Yudh Seva Medal. Apart from this, 122 Vishisht Seva Medal, 81 Sena Medal (Gallantry), 2 Vayu Sena Medal, 40 Sena Medal, 8 Navy Medal and 14 Vayu Sena Medal will also be given.
Neeraj Chopra was inducted as Naib Subedar in the Indian Army in 2016 under sports quota. His unit is 4 Rajputana Rifles. Normally no player is directly recruited into the rank of Naib Subedar in the army but Neeraj’s sports record was excellent. For this reason, he was directly given the rank of Naib Subedar.
