Game, Glory, and Gallantry: Sportspersons Honoured by the Indian Military

Two prominent names come to the fore when we talk about gallantry-awarded sportspersons who have served the nation both in sports and in the Indian military.

Lt Col Haripal Singh Kaushik, VrC, was a two-time Olympic gold medallist (1956, 1964) in field hockey who went on to serve in the Indian Army’s 1st Sikh Regiment. Commissioned in 1959, he displayed exceptional courage and leadership during the 1962 Sino-Indian War in Arunachal Pradesh. For his outstanding bravery and devotion to duty, he was awarded the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest gallantry award.

Captain Homi Dady Motivala, SC, a decorated yachtsman and retired officer of the Indian Navy, combined excellence in both service and sport. Commissioned in 1979, he showed remarkable bravery during a missile accident aboard INS Chapal as a young Sub Lieutenant, earning the Shaurya Chakra for gallantry.

A celebrated sailor, he won 3 Asian Games medals and a World Championship gold (1993), and was honoured with the Arjuna Award and Khel Ratna for his outstanding sporting achievements.

There have been sportspersons whose exemplary careers in both sports and the armed forces have earned them distinguished service medals, such as the AVSM and VSM. Excelling in two demanding arenas, they stand as powerful inspirations for those who aspire to serve the nation with both skill and spirit.

Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, AVSM, is a retired Indian Army officer, Olympian, and two-time Member of Parliament. Serving 23 years in the Army, including counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir, he balanced military duty with sporting excellence. He won a Silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics, two Commonwealth Golds, and over 25 international medals, while jointly holding a world record in double trap shooting.

He has been honoured with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for distinguished service, along with the Padma Shri, Khel Ratna, and Arjuna Award for his outstanding contribution to Indian sport.

Col Balbir Singh Kular, VSM (born 5 April 1945) carved a dual legacy as an elite Indian field hockey player and a distinguished Army officer. A native of Sansarpur, Punjab, he served with the historic Saragarhi Battalion (4 Sikh) of the Indian Army, rising to the rank of Colonel.

On the field, he was part of India’s gold-winning team at the 1966 Asian Games and contributed significantly to the bronze medal at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. For his distinguished service in both sports and the military, he was honoured with the Vishisht Seva Medal and the Arjuna Award.

Buy now: Col Balbir Singh’s Memoir

Brigadier Harcharan Singh, VSM, is a name etched in both Indian hockey and military honour. A key figure of India’s golden hockey era, he was part of the bronze-winning team at the 1972 Munich Olympics and a member of the World Cup-winning squad in 1975 at Kuala Lumpur.

In his distinguished Army career, he rose to the rank of Brigadier, was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for meritorious service, and later dedicated himself to promoting sports and nurturing young hockey talent across the country.

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Beyond those who have served both in uniform and on the field, the Indian Armed Forces have also honoured outstanding sportspersons whose achievements have brought immense pride to the nation. These honorary ranks are conferred as a mark of respect and recognition, symbolising the shared values of discipline, courage, and dedication to duty that unite the worlds of sports and the military.

Here are some of the eminent sportspersons who have been conferred honorary ranks by the Indian Military:

MS Dhoni holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army's Territorial Army. He was awarded this rank in 2011 and is also a qualified paratrooper, having completed five parachute training jumps in 2015.

Sachin Tendulkar was conferred the honorary rank of Group Captain in the Indian Air Force (IAF) on September 3, 2010, becoming the first sportsperson to receive a rank from the IAF.

The javelin ace joined the army in 2016 as a junior commissioned officer in the rank of Naib Subedar in the Rajputana Rifles. This year, on October 22, 2025, he was conferred with the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army.

Milkha Singh joined the Indian Armed Forces in 1951 and was later promoted from the rank of Sepoy to that of a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) after winning gold medals at the 1958 Asian Games. He was conferred the honorary rank of Captain in the Army.

1. Kapil Dev - Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army
2. Abhinav Bindra – Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army

If one name truly bridges the worlds of sport and military service, it’s Major Dhyan Chand. Serving in the British Indian Army, he discovered hockey during his tenure and soon became the face of India’s golden era in the sport. Chand led India to three consecutive Olympic golds—in 1928, 1932, and 1936—earning worldwide admiration for his skill and humility.

He retired from the Army in 1956 as a Major, leaving behind a legacy of discipline and excellence. To honour his unmatched contribution, India’s highest sporting honour—the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award—proudly bears his name. Some of the eminent sportspersons who have been honoured with this award include Mary Kom, PV Sindhu, Abhinav Bindra, and many more.

While this blog primarily highlights sportspersons honoured with military gallantry and distinguished service awards, it is equally important to celebrate the sportswomen who have donned the uniform and achieved historic firsts.

A rising star in trap shooting, Preeti Rajak clinched a silver at the 2023 Asian Games and a gold at the 2025 Asian Shooting Championship. Joining the Army in 2022, she became the first woman to be promoted to Subedar, earning an out-of-turn promotion for her achievements.

A Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and the nation’s first women’s World Boxing Championships gold medallist, Jaismine made history as the first female boxer to join the Indian Army. Recruited as a Havildar in the Corps of Military Police, she exemplifies determination, courage, and the rising presence of women in both defense and sport.

Captain Shikha Surabhi created history as the first woman officer to join the Army’s elite all-male Daredevils motorcycle stunt team. Trained in motorcycle stunt riding, an extreme adventure sport demanding balance, precision and fearlessness, she became the first woman to perform high-risk riding formations.

In every medal won and every uniform worn lies a shared heartbeat of dedication, discipline, and devotion to the nation. Whether on the sports field or the battlefield, these men and women embody the same values—courage under pressure, teamwork, and an unyielding will to rise above challenges.

By honouring sportspersons with gallantry awards and honorary ranks, the Indian Armed Forces remind us that the spirit of service transcends boundaries. These champions inspire not just through their victories but through their humility, resilience, and unwavering commitment to India’s pride.

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