A champion trap shooter who is now rated sixth in the women's trap competition in India, Havildar Preeti Rajak has been promoted as the first female Subedar in the Indian Army. In December 2022, Subedar Rajak enlisted in the Army and joined the Corps of Military Police. She is the first deserving athlete from the shooting discipline to be promoted as a Havildar in the Army.
Subedar Preeti is currently undergoing training at the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) in order to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She grabbed a silver medal in the women's trap team competition at the 19th Asian Games, which were hosted in Hangzhou, China. She was given the first out-of-turn promotion to Subedar in recognition of her exceptional performance.
Subedar Preeti's achievement has been praised by the Indian Army, which defined it as an "extraordinary display of Nari Shakti." Her elevation is a matter of pride for women across India and the Indian Army. The Indian Army expressed its hope that her remarkable accomplishment will inspire future generations of young women to want to join the armed forces and carve out a career in professional shooting.
