PUNE: Defence minister Rajnath Singh is to felicitate on Tuesday Tokyo Olympics Gold medalist Neeraj Chopra and other Olympians from the armed forces during a function at the Army Sports Institute (ASI) to name its stadium after Chopra.
Singh will also interact with budding sportsmen at the institute. Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane and Southern Army Commander Lt Gen JS Nain will accompany the minister.
A release issued by the Southern Command stated, “Indian Army has always been at the forefront of Indian sports — from Major Dhyan Chand to Subedar Neeraj Chopra, who etched their names in golden letters in the history of Indian sports.”
“The Indian Army’s ‘Mission Olympics’ programme was launched in 2001 as a key responsibility area to raise the standard of sports with the intent to win medals in international events, including Olympics,” the release further mentioned.
The ASI has produced 34 Olympians, 22 Commonwealth Games medalists, 21 Asian Games medalists and 13 Arjuna awardees. Earlier this month, Chopra became the first Indian to win an Olympic Gold in a track-and-field event.
