NEW DELHI: Havildar Preeti Rajak, who won silver medal in women’s team trap shooting event at Asian Games, has been promoted to become the first woman Subedar in the 12-lakh strong Army. Subedar Rajak, who joined the Corps of Military Police (CMP) in Dec 2022 based on her proven performance in trap shooting, had teamed up with Rajeshwari Kumari and Manisha Keer to win the silver medal at Asian Games in China last Oct.
Daughter of a drycleaner from Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh, Subedar Rajak was the first meritorious sportswomen in the shooting discipline to be enrolled in the Army as a Havildar.
“Based on her extraordinary performance, she was awarded the first out-of-turn promotion to Subedar,” the Army said in a statement on Saturday.
“Subedar Rajak is currently ranked 6th in India (trap women event) and is training at the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) in preparation for the Paris Olympic Games. Her great achievement will motivate generations of young women to come forward to join the Army as well as carve a niche for themselves in professional shooting,” it added.
Padmashri and Arjuna Award winner Subedar Major and Honorary Lieutenant Jitu Rai was also promoted to the rank of Subedar Major and Honorary Captain for his meritorious service during the ceremony at Mhow.