The Indian Army not only protects our borders with full devotion but also benefits sports by sending some of the top athletes from the country to compete on a global platform. The Army institutes provide excellent sports infrastructure and facilities, so sportsmen who have joined the army or army personnel who desire to pursue sports can do so.
Several Army athletes have previously competed in the Olympics on behalf of India. Let’s have a look at Indian Army athletes who participated in the Tokyo Olympics.
1. Amit Panghal
Subedar Amit Panghal, an Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and the amateur boxer was born on October 16, 1995. In the Flyweight division, he won a silver medal at the 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships. At the 2018 Asian Games, Panghal won a gold medal. In the 52 kg category, Amit Panghal was seeded first. Amit Panghal is the Asian Games champion and a silver medalist in the Asian Elite Boxing Championships. Panghal finished second in Dubai after failing to defend his gold title against incumbent Olympic and world champion Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan.
2. Manish Kaushik
Manish Kaushik, a Joint Commissioned Officer of the Indian Army, was born on January 11, 1996. The Haryana boxer had previously earned a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and a bronze medal at the World Championships in 2019. He became the final Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympics after defeating Garside in the qualification round, and he will represent India in the 63 kg category at the Tokyo Olympics.
3. Avinash Sable
Avinash Sable, who was born on September 13, 1994, enlisted in the Mahar Regiment of the Indian Army after finishing high school. In the 3000 metres steeplechase, he represents India and owns the national record of 8:20.21, which he set at the federation cup in Patiala in 2021. The 26-year-old sportsmen took silver at the Asian Athletics Championships in 2019.
4. Neeraj Chopra
In 2016, Neeraj Chopra, who was born on December 24, 1997, enlisted in the Indian Army as a Junior Commissioned Officer. He competed for India in the javelin throw and owns the national mark of 88.07 metres, which he set in March 2021 in the Indian Grand Prix. With gold medals in the 2018 Asian and Commonwealth Games, the 23-year-old athlete has a long medal career. And, as we all know, he made India proud by winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
5. Sandeep Kumar Punia
Sandeep Kumar Punia, a track athlete, was born on May 1, 1986. He is an Indian army Naib subedar who also competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics in 50km Racewalking, finishing 35th with a time of 4 hours, 7 minutes, and 55 seconds. The 35-year-old holds the national record in the 20km Racewalking category with a time of 1 hour 20 minutes 16 seconds.