India's Olympic gold medal-winning athlete Neeraj Chopra has been honoured with Param Vishisht Seva Medal. "Tokyo Olympics Gold medalist Subedar Neeraj Chopra of 4 Rajputana Rifles awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal on Republic Day," tweeted news agency ANI on Tuesday.
Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won gold at the Tokyo Olympics last year. It was India's second individual gold at the Games after Abhinav Bindra's efforts in Beijing in 2008. Neeraj was honoured with the country's highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award, last year.
Neeraj Chopra is a Subedar in the Indian Army. He had enrolled in 4 Rajputana Rifles as a direct entry Naib Subedar in 2016. He was chosen for training at the Mission Olympics Wing and Army Sports Institute in Pune. Haryana will also showcase the life-size replica of Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra in the form of a tableau during the 2022 Republic Day parade. According to the Directorate of Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Haryana, a total of ten Olympians will be a part of the tableau.
(With ANI inputs)