Biography of Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj Chopra (born 24 December 1997) is an Indian javelin thrower and one of the greatest athletes in India's history. This Neeraj Chopra biography tells his life story, career, records and achievements in very simple words. He won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, becoming the first Indian to win an Olympic gold in athletics. He later won the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics and the gold medal at the 2023 World Championships. In May 2025, he became the first Indian to throw the javelin beyond 90 metres. He is also a Subedar Major and an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army.

Neeraj Chopra Biography at a Glance (Quick Facts)

Detail	Information
Full Name	Neeraj Chopra
Born	24 December 1997
Birthplace	Khandra village, Panipat, Haryana
Age	28 years (as of September 2026)
Sport	Javelin throw (athletics)
Famous For	Olympic gold (Tokyo 2020) and silver (Paris 2024); World Champion 2023
Father	Satish Kumar Chopra (farmer)
Mother	Saroj Devi
Sisters	Two sisters
Wife	Himani Mor (married in January 2025)
Army Rank	Subedar Major, Rajputana Rifles; honorary Lieutenant Colonel (Territorial Army, 2025)
Personal Best	90.23 metres (Doha, 16 May 2025), an Indian record
Awards	Arjuna Award (2018), Khel Ratna (2021), Padma Shri (2022), Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2022)
Nickname	Golden Boy of India

Who Is Neeraj Chopra?

Neeraj Chopra is a javelin thrower from a village in Haryana who became a world champion. In his early years, he was a shy boy who was overweight. He started to practise javelin throw to become fit, and, within a few years, he was a world junior champion. He then went on to win the biggest prizes in the world of athletics.

He is loved in India not only for his medals but also for his simple and humble nature. After his Olympic gold, he remained calm and down to earth. He also became a role model for young athletes from small towns and villages.

If a student asks, "Who is Neeraj Chopra?", the short answer is: the Indian javelin thrower who won the Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020 and the silver in Paris 2024.

Neeraj Chopra Early Life and Family

Birth and Family Background

Neeraj Chopra was born on 24 December 1997 in Khandra, a village in the Panipat district of Haryana. His father, Satish Kumar Chopra, is a farmer, and his mother, Saroj Devi, is a homemaker. He has two sisters. The family lived in a big joint family of about 17 members in the village.

As the eldest boy in the family, and as a child who was loved by everyone, Neeraj was well looked after. He grew up in a simple home, and he often helped in the fields.

From Overweight Boy to Athlete

When Neeraj was about 12 or 13, he was overweight, and weighed about 80 kg. His family was worried about his health. His uncle took him to a gym in Panipat, and asked him to run and to exercise. Neeraj started going to the Shivaji Stadium in Panipat for his fitness.

At the stadium, he saw some older athletes throwing the javelin. He was curious and gave it a try. His throw impressed the seniors. One of them, Jaiveer Singh Chaudhary, a javelin thrower and coach, saw his talent and started to train him. That is how Neeraj began his journey in javelin throw around 2010–2011.

Training in Panchkula

In 2011, when Neeraj was about 13, he moved to the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula, Haryana, which had better facilities. There, he trained under coach Naseem Ahmed for several years. He did his schooling and continued to study at DAV College in Chandigarh, while training hard every day. Later, he also studied at the Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar.

Neeraj Chopra Education

Neeraj studied at Bhartiya Vidya Niketan Public School in Panipat and later at DAV College in Chandigarh. He enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts course at Lovely Professional University. His main focus was always on sport, but he made time for studies too. The story shows that a balance between studies and sport is possible.

Neeraj Chopra Rise in Athletics (2016–2018)

World U20 Record (2016)

Neeraj's big breakthrough came in July 2016 at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. He won the gold medal with a throw of 86.48 metres, which was a new world record for the under-20 category. He was just 18 years old. He was the first Indian track-and-field athlete to win a gold at a world-level event. It made him a national star.

Joining the Indian Army

In December 2016, Neeraj joined the Indian Army as a Junior Commissioned Officer (Naib Subedar) in the Rajputana Rifles. This was possible because of the sports quota. The Army gave him a stable job and good training facilities. He was later promoted to Subedar and then Subedar Major, and in 2025 the Army also made him an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army.

Commonwealth and Asian Games (2018)

In April 2018, Neeraj won the gold medal in javelin at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, with a throw of 86.47 metres. He was the flag-bearer of India at the opening ceremony of the games. In August 2018, he won the gold medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta with an Indian national record of 88.06 metres. It was India's first-ever javelin gold at the Asian Games. For these achievements, he got the Arjuna Award in 2018.

Injury and Comeback (2019–2021)

In 2019, Neeraj suffered an elbow injury and had to undergo surgery. He missed the World Championships that year. The Covid-19 pandemic then stopped the sports world in 2020. But Neeraj worked hard, and used the time to recover his fitness. He trained with the German coach Uwe Hohn, who had worked with him from 2018 and helped him improve his technique, and later with the biomechanics expert Klaus Bartonietz.

In March 2021, he made a strong comeback at a meet in Patiala, throwing 88.07 metres. He was ready for the Olympics.

Tokyo Olympics 2020: The Historic Gold Medal

The Tokyo Olympics were held in 2021 because of the Covid-19 delay. On 7 August 2021, Neeraj Chopra stood in the javelin final at the Olympic Stadium. In his second throw, he sent the javelin to 87.58 metres. None of the other throwers could beat that. Neeraj won the gold medal.

This was India's first Olympic gold in athletics in history. It was also India's second individual Olympic gold medal after Abhinav Bindra's gold in shooting at Beijing 2008. The whole country celebrated. Neeraj also became the flag-bearer of India at the closing ceremony.

After the win, the Indian government and many states announced big prizes. The Army Sports Institute Stadium in Pune was renamed Neeraj Chopra Stadium. He was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (then called Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna) in 2021, and the Padma Shri and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022.

Neeraj Chopra at the World Championships

Year	Place	Result	Distance
2022	Eugene, USA	Silver	88.13 m
2023	Budapest, Hungary	Gold	88.17 m
2025	Tokyo, Japan	8th place	84.03 m

In 2022, Neeraj won the silver medal at the World Championships, which was only India's second medal ever at the event in athletics after Anju Bobby George's bronze in 2003. In 2023, he became the World Champion, the first Indian to win a gold in athletics at the World Championships. He beat Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem (silver) and Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch (bronze).

Diamond League and Asian Games Success

• 2022: He set a personal best of 89.94 metres in Stockholm in June 2022, and won the Diamond League Final in Zurich with 88.44 metres, becoming the first Indian to win the Diamond League trophy.
• 2023: He won the gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou with 88.88 metres, defending his 2018 title.
• 2024: He finished second in the Diamond League Final in Brussels, just 1 centimetre behind the winner.

Paris Olympics 2024: The Silver Medal

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, on 8 August 2024, Neeraj Chopra won the silver medal with a throw of 89.45 metres. It was his only valid throw of the final, as the other five were fouls. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem threw an Olympic record 92.97 metres to win the gold, and Grenada's Anderson Peters took the bronze.

With this silver, Neeraj became the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals in athletics. He showed his great sportsmanship after the final, congratulating Arshad Nadeem warmly. His mother, Saroj Devi, said in an interview that the gold winner was also like her child, which won many hearts in both countries.

The 90-Metre Mark: Doha 2025

For years, fans waited to see Neeraj cross the 90-metre mark, which is a special line in men's javelin. On 16 May 2025, at the Doha Diamond League, he did it with a throw of 90.23 metres. He finished second, behind Germany's Julian Weber, but the throw was a new national record and made him the first Indian to cross 90 metres.

In July 2025, he also hosted the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru, a major javelin event named after him, which he won with 86.18 metres. It was a proud moment for Indian athletics to host such a top-level event.

Neeraj Chopra in 2025 and 2026

In September 2025, at the World Championships in Tokyo, Neeraj could not win a medal. He finished 8th with 84.03 metres. It ended his run of finishing in the top two in every major event since 2021.

In 2026, he started the season late because of a lower back injury. At the Doha Diamond League in May 2026, he finished fourth with 85.69 metres. He was second at the Lausanne Diamond League. At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July–August 2026, he won the silver medal with 85.83 metres, behind Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage (89.75 m). His Indian team-mate Yash Vir Singh won the bronze. Reports also say that Neeraj is now working again with his first coach, Jaiveer Chaudhary. He is expected to defend his Asian Games title in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, in 2026.

Javelin Throw Explained in Simple Words

Point	Explanation
What is it?	An athletics event where an athlete throws a long spear-like stick (the javelin) as far as possible
Weight of the men's javelin	800 grams
Length	About 2.6 to 2.7 metres
How many throws?	Usually 3 throws in the qualifying round and 6 in the final
How is the winner decided?	The athlete with the longest valid throw wins
Foul	If the athlete steps over the throwing line, the throw does not count
Important distance	90 metres is considered a great throw for men

Neeraj Chopra Coaches Over the Years

Period	Coach
2010–2011	Jaiveer Singh Chaudhary (first coach)
2011–2016	Naseem Ahmed
2016–2017	Gary Calvert (Australia)
2018–2021	Uwe Hohn (Germany)
2021–2024	Klaus Bartonietz (Germany), biomechanics expert
2024–2026	Jan Železný (Czech Republic), the world record holder in javelin
2026	Reports say he is again working with Jaiveer Chaudhary

Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem: A Friendly Rivalry

Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem are two of the best javelin throwers in the world. They have often met at big events, including the World Championships and the Olympics. Arshad won the Paris Olympic gold in 2024, while Neeraj won the Tokyo Olympic gold and the 2023 World title. The two are known to be friendly to each other, and often greet each other after the events. Fans of both countries respect their sportsmanship, and it is an example of the way sport can build friendship.

Neeraj Chopra Marriage and Family Life

Neeraj Chopra married Himani Mor in January 2025 in a small private ceremony in Himachal Pradesh. Himani is a former tennis player from Haryana who also played college tennis in the United States and worked as a coach. The news came as a surprise to fans, as Neeraj shared it on social media after the wedding.

Neeraj Chopra Awards and Honours

Award / Honour	Year
Arjuna Award	2018
Rajiv Gandhi (now Major Dhyan Chand) Khel Ratna	2021
Padma Shri	2022
Param Vishisht Seva Medal (Army)	2022
Vishisht Seva Medal (Army)	2022
Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Territorial Army	2025
Army Sports Institute Stadium in Pune renamed Neeraj Chopra Stadium	2021

Neeraj Chopra Timeline (Year-Wise History)

Year	Event
1997	Born on 24 December in Khandra, Panipat
2010–11	Starts javelin throw at Shivaji Stadium, Panipat
2016	Wins the World U20 Championships with a world junior record of 86.48 m; joins the Army
2018	Wins gold at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games
2019	Elbow surgery
2021	Wins the Olympic gold in Tokyo (87.58 m)
2022	World Championships silver; Diamond League Final winner
2023	World Champion in Budapest; Asian Games gold
2024	Olympic silver in Paris (89.45 m)
2025	Crosses 90 m in Doha (90.23 m); marries Himani Mor
2026	Commonwealth Games silver in Glasgow

Personality and Beliefs of Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj is known for his calm and humble nature. He speaks little, smiles a lot and gives credit to his coaches and family. He often says that he does not think of medals, but only of doing his best in each throw. He follows a strict diet and a hard training routine, but he also enjoys simple things like food, films and time with family.

He is also known for his respect for other athletes and for sporting spirit. After the Tokyo Olympics, he kept a message of gratitude to his family, his coach and the country. He also supports sports for children in rural areas.

Neeraj Chopra Legacy: Why He Is Admired

Neeraj Chopra changed the picture of Indian athletics. Before him, India had never won an Olympic gold in track and field. Because of him, javelin throw has become a popular sport in India. More young athletes, like Kishore Jena, DP Manu and Yash Vir Singh, are now taking up the javelin. He has shown that Indians can win at the top level in athletics, a sport in which India had long been weak.

His stories of hard work, humility and sporting spirit are told in schools all over the country.

Interesting Facts About Neeraj Chopra

• He was overweight as a child and started sports to get fit.
• He set a world junior record at 18.
• He is a Subedar Major in the Indian Army and an honorary Lieutenant Colonel.
• He won India's first Olympic gold in athletics.
• He won the World Championships in 2023.
• He won two Olympic medals: gold in 2021 and silver in 2024.
• He became the first Indian to cross 90 metres in the javelin throw.
• A stadium in Pune is named after him.
• His personal best is 90.23 metres.
• He married Himani Mor in 2025.

Neeraj Chopra Biography: Important Points for SSC and Other Exams

• Born on 24 December 1997 in Khandra, Panipat (Haryana).
• Won gold at the Tokyo Olympics (2021) with 87.58 m, India's first Olympic gold in athletics.
• Won silver at the Paris Olympics (2024) with 89.45 m.
• World Champion in 2023 (Budapest); silver in 2022.
• Asian Games gold in 2018 and 2023; Commonwealth Games gold in 2018.
• Diamond League Final winner in 2022.
• Awards: Arjuna (2018), Khel Ratna (2021), Padma Shri (2022).
• Serves in the Rajputana Rifles of the Indian Army.
• First Indian to throw beyond 90 metres (90.23 m in 2025).

Practice Questions (with Answers)

Question	Answer
In which sport did Neeraj Chopra win the Olympic gold?	Javelin throw
In which year did he win the Olympic gold?	2021 (Tokyo 2020 Olympics)
What was his winning throw at Tokyo?	87.58 metres
Which medal did he win at Paris 2024?	Silver (89.45 m)
In which army regiment does he serve?	Rajputana Rifles

Lessons Students Can Learn from Neeraj Chopra

• Start from where you are. A village boy, who was overweight, became a world champion.
• Trust your coach and follow discipline. Neeraj has worked with many coaches and learned from all.
• Come back from injuries. He recovered from surgery and won gold.
• Be humble. He stayed grounded after every win.
• Respect your rivals. His friendship with Arshad Nadeem is an example of sporting spirit.

Training and Lifestyle of a Javelin Thrower

Javelin throw looks simple, but it needs a lot of strength, speed and skill. A top thrower like Neeraj Chopra spends many hours each day on training. A typical routine includes the following parts:

• Run-up practice. The thrower runs about 30 metres before the throw to build speed, and then plants a foot at the line and uses the whole body to send the javelin forward.
• Strength training. Weights and gym work make the legs, core and shoulders strong.
• Technique and video analysis. Coaches and experts study slow-motion videos to make small changes in the angle and the release.
• Flexibility and recovery. Stretching, physiotherapy and rest help to avoid injuries.
• Diet. A healthy diet with enough protein and simple food is needed. Neeraj is said to like Haryanvi food like churma, and also enjoys golgappa on rare days off.

Neeraj has said that consistency is the key. He often trains abroad, in countries like Turkey, Finland and South Africa, where the weather and facilities are good for training.

Indian Athletics Before Neeraj Chopra

To understand why Neeraj Chopra's gold was so special, it helps to know how Indian athletes had done at the Olympics before him. Indian track and field had many near-misses.

Athlete	Achievement
Norman Pritchard	Won two silver medals at the 1900 Paris Olympics for India, according to IOC records
Milkha Singh	Finished 4th in the 400 m at the 1960 Rome Olympics by a tiny margin
Gurbachan Singh Randhawa	Finished 5th in the 110 m hurdles at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
P. T. Usha	Finished 4th in the 400 m hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, missing the bronze by 1/100th of a second
Anju Bobby George	Won a bronze medal in long jump at the 2003 World Championships
Neeraj Chopra	Won the Olympic gold in 2021, ending a very long wait

Neeraj Chopra's Olympic Journey in Numbers

Olympics	Result	Distance
Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021)	Gold	87.58 m
Paris 2024	Silver	89.45 m

Two Olympic medals in two Games is a rare feat for an Indian athlete.

Common Confusions About Neeraj Chopra

• He is not the first Indian Olympic gold medallist. He is the first in athletics. Abhinav Bindra won the first individual Olympic gold for India in shooting (2008), and the Indian hockey team had won many golds earlier.
• He is not the world record holder. The world record of 98.48 metres belongs to Jan Železný of the Czech Republic, set in 1996.
• His personal best changed. It was 89.94 m from 2022 until May 2025, and then became 90.23 m.
• He did not win gold at Paris 2024. He won silver. The gold went to Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan.

Neeraj Chopra's Effect on Indian Sport

The impact of Neeraj's success is bigger than his own medals. Since 2021, the number of children who take up javelin throw in India has grown. Schools and academies have started to set up javelin programmes. The Athletics Federation of India and state governments have raised their support for the sport. In 2025, the Neeraj Chopra Classic was held in India, and it showed that top-level athletics events can be organised in the country.

His Olympic gold has also helped to change the image of athletics in India. Earlier, cricket used to get almost all the attention. Now, Olympic sports are getting more support from sponsors, media and the public. Parents in villages now believe that a child who runs, throws or jumps can also have a good future.

How to Remember the Story of Neeraj Chopra for Exams

1. Born: 24 December 1997 in Khandra, Panipat, Haryana.
2. Sport: Javelin throw.
3. First big win: World U20 gold with a junior world record (2016).
4. Olympics: Gold in Tokyo (87.58 m); silver in Paris (89.45 m).
5. World Championships: Silver in 2022 and gold in 2023.
6. Best throw: 90.23 m at Doha in 2025.
7. Service: Subedar Major in the Rajputana Rifles and an honorary Lieutenant Colonel.

Sportsmanship and Values

One thing that stands out in Neeraj's career is his sportsmanship. He congratulates his rivals warmly, whether he wins or loses. He has also spoken about the need to give equal respect to athletes from all countries. In interviews, he says that a sportsperson's job is to give his best and to leave the rest to the result. This calm way of thinking has helped him to stay steady in the ups and downs of a long career.

Related People and Topics

You can also read about Abhinav Bindra, Arshad Nadeem, Jan Železný, Anju Bobby George, Milkha Singh, P. T. Usha, Manu Bhaker, the Olympic Games and the Diamond League.

Key Takeaways

• Neeraj Chopra (born 1997) is India's top javelin thrower.
• He won the Olympic gold in 2021 and the silver in 2024.
• He is the 2023 World Champion and the first Indian to cross 90 metres.
• He is a Subedar Major in the Indian Army.
• He is admired for his hard work and humble nature.

Neeraj Chopra Biography: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Who is Neeraj Chopra?

Neeraj Chopra is an Indian javelin thrower who won the Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020 and the silver in Paris 2024. He is also the 2023 World Champion.

Q2. When and where was Neeraj Chopra born?

He was born on 24 December 1997 in Khandra village, Panipat, Haryana.

Q3. How old is Neeraj Chopra?

As of September 2026, Neeraj Chopra is 28 years old. He will turn 29 on 24 December 2026.

Q4. Who are the parents of Neeraj Chopra?

His father is Satish Kumar Chopra, a farmer, and his mother is Saroj Devi. He has two sisters.

Q5. Who is the wife of Neeraj Chopra?

His wife is Himani Mor, a former tennis player. They married in January 2025.

Q6. Which sport does Neeraj Chopra play?

He plays javelin throw, an event in athletics.

Q7. Who was the first coach of Neeraj Chopra?

His first coach was Jaiveer Singh Chaudhary, who saw his talent at Shivaji Stadium in Panipat and began to train him.

Q8. Who is the coach of Neeraj Chopra now?

He has worked with many coaches, including Uwe Hohn, Klaus Bartonietz and Jan Železný. Reports say that in 2026 he is working again with his first coach, Jaiveer Chaudhary.

Q9. Why is Neeraj Chopra famous?

He is famous for winning India's first Olympic gold medal in athletics at Tokyo 2020, for the silver at Paris 2024 and for being the 2023 World Champion.

Q10. What did Neeraj Chopra win at the Tokyo Olympics?

He won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw with a throw of 87.58 metres on 7 August 2021.

Q11. What did Neeraj Chopra win at the Paris Olympics?

He won the silver medal with a throw of 89.45 metres on 8 August 2024. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem won the gold.

Q12. What is the personal best of Neeraj Chopra?

His personal best is 90.23 metres, thrown at the Doha Diamond League on 16 May 2025. It is an Indian record.

Q13. Is Neeraj Chopra a World Champion?

Yes. He won the gold at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest with 88.17 metres. He had won the silver in 2022.

Q14. How many Olympic medals has Neeraj Chopra won?

He has won two Olympic medals: gold at Tokyo 2020 and silver at Paris 2024.

Q15. Did Neeraj Chopra win a medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games?

Yes. He won the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a throw of 85.83 metres.

Q16. What happened to Neeraj Chopra at the 2025 World Championships?

He finished 8th in Tokyo with a throw of 84.03 metres. It was the first time since 2021 that he was out of the top two in a major event.

Q17. What is the army rank of Neeraj Chopra?

He is a Subedar Major in the Rajputana Rifles. In 2025, he was also made an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army.

Q18. Which awards has Neeraj Chopra received?

He has received the Arjuna Award (2018), the Khel Ratna (2021), the Padma Shri (2022) and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2022).

Q19. What is the Neeraj Chopra Classic?

It is a top-level javelin event held in Bengaluru, named after Neeraj Chopra. The first one was held in July 2025 and Neeraj won it.

Q20. Who is Arshad Nadeem?

Arshad Nadeem is a Pakistani javelin thrower who won the gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics with an Olympic record of 92.97 metres. He and Neeraj are friendly rivals.

Q21. What is the weight of a javelin?

The men's javelin weighs 800 grams and is about 2.6 to 2.7 metres long.

Q22. Why is a stadium named after Neeraj Chopra?

After his Olympic gold in 2021, the Army Sports Institute Stadium in Pune was renamed the Neeraj Chopra Stadium in his honour.

Q23. What can students learn from Neeraj Chopra?

Students can learn hard work, humility, respect for coaches and rivals, and the courage to come back after failure or injury.