Neeraj Web

Picture Credit: Twitter

India's star javelin thrower and gold medalist at Tokyo Olympics 2020, Neeraj Chopra, will soon have another feather in his cap. For his commendable performance at Olympics last year, Neeraj will be awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal on the eve of Republic Day on Tuesday evening. After bagging a gold medal at Tokyo Olympics, Neeraj became the first track and field Indian athlete to win a gold medal.

Subedar Neeraj Chopra belongs to 4 Rajputana Rifles; he became the only athlete to strike a gold medal for India at the Tokyo Olympic Games last year. The prestigious PVSM honour is bestowed to military men for exceptional peace-time service by the President of India.

Neeraj, who has a personal best of 88.07 metres, clinched the historic gold with a throw of 87.58 m in his second attempt at the Tokyo Olympic games. The record for the same stands at 90.57m set by Andreas Thorkildsen in Beijing 2008, and responding to the same Neeraj has said that he would like to break that record. The world's biggest sporting event saw the biggest-ever Indian Olympic contingent visit Tokyo. India finished the event with its best-ever tally with a 7-medal.

WATCH: India’s Tokyo Olympic heroes come together to sing national anthem

Among the best performers at Tokyo Games for the Indian contingent was Mirabai Chanu, who won the silver medal for weightlifting (women's 49 kg category). The Manipur-born athlete became the second Indian woman to bag silver at the Olympics after PV Sindhu in 2016 Rio. Even players like Sindhu, Sushil Kumar, Lovila Borgohain, men's hockey team were a few of the medal winners for India. However, Neeraj Chopra grabbed the most limelight for winning the best prize of all-the Olympic Gold medal.

Reportedly, President Ram Nath Kovind has approved the names of 384 defence personnel who will be conferred with Gallantry and other awards on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day celebrations.