In a proud moment for the Indian Army and the women of the country, Havildar Preeti Rajak, a Trap Shooter, was promoted to the rank of Subedar today. Subedar Preeti Rajak now holds the prestigious title of being the First Woman Subedar in the Indian Army.
Subedar Preeti joined the Indian Army in the Corps of Military Police on 22nd December 2022 based on her exceptional performance in Trap Shooting. As the first meritorious sportswoman in the shooting discipline enrolled in the Indian Army as a Havildar, her journey has been marked by achievements, including winning a Silver Medal in the Trap Women Team Event at the 19th Asian Games 2022 held in Hangzhou, China.
Her extraordinary performance during the Asian Games led to her being awarded a first out-of-turn promotion to the rank of Subedar. The pipping ceremony, chaired by Lt Gen Gajendra Joshi, Commandant Infantry School, celebrated Subedar Preeti’s excellence in shooting.
Currently ranked 6th in India in the Trap Women Event, Subedar Preeti is training at the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) for the Paris Olympic Games 2024. The Indian Army, in a press release, stated, “Her great achievement will motivate generations of young women to come forward to join the Indian Army as well as carve a niche for themselves in professional shooting.”
On the same day, Padmashri and Arjuna Awardee Subedar Major and Honorary Lieutenant Jitu Rai were promoted to the rank of Subedar Major and Honorary Captain for his meritorious service.
