Neeraj Kumar Mehra (born 26 February 1981) is Olympism Researcher, Sports Administrator and Sports for Development and Peace Practitioner from India. Currently, he is President of National Council of Sports Science and Physical Education (NCSPE). He is also Elected Executive Member and Research Officer(2019-2021) with International Olympic Academy Participants Association (IOAPA), Press and PR Officer with World Martial Arts Games Committee, Country Coordinator- International Olympic Academy Participants Association-India and President of National Martial Arts Games Committee of India.

Early life

Neeraj Kumar Mehra was born to Shri Kawal Singh Mehra and Smt. Maya Devi on 26 February 1981.

Education Profile

His school education was completed in Shinshu Niketan School, Dav School, Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary School, N.M. Jain Public School, Ludhiana (Punjab) Government Model High School, Sector -26 and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector-19, Chandigarh. Neeraj Kumar Mehra is a graduate of Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Delhi and post graduate from Department of Physical Education, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana. He was also first Indian candidate in Olympic Master Degree Programme at International Olympic Academy, Ancient Olympic, Athens, Greece in 2010. Neeraj Kumar Mehra holds various positions in his student's life Asia Representative, Course Representative, Student Editor, College Magazine, First Senior Under Officer, College NCC Unit, College Secretary Students Union, Student Editor, School Magazine, Sports Captain, School Prefect etc.

Sports Career

He started playing basketball at an early age under the guidance of Coach Mr.H.K.Sharma. He was the member of the winning team of Chandigarh at different levels and represented Chandigarh Basketball Teams in several National Championships/Games. He has represented IGIEPSS Basketball and Kho-Kho Team in Inter College Championship in Delhi. He also played for Delhi Korball Team in National Korfball Championship and got third place. He has achieved a podium finish in Inter College Softball and Inter College KorballChampionships during postgraduate studies. He represented the Kurukshetra University Netball Team in All India Universities Netball Championship.

Professional career

Neeraj Kumar Mehra started his professional career where he worked for Kendriya Vidyalaya School Rangpuri, Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj as part-time Basketball Coach. In 2005, he joined Dalhousie Hilltop School in Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh as Physical Education Teacher. During his tenure, he was responsible for the NCC activities also. In December 2005 he joined Sahibzada Ajit Singh Academy, Roopnagar(Punjab) as Post Graduate Teacher (Physical Education) where he has handled the responsibilities of Hostel Warden and NCC Officer also. in mid of 2006, he joined Ganga International School as Hostel Warded where he was responsible for the Junior Boys Hostel. Afterwards, he joined Kamal Public School as Post Graduate Teacher (Physical Education). He has also worked for Shaheed Bhagat Singh International School, Varpal, Amritsar, Punjab. He also worked as a Freelance English Trainer with Shaping Careers, Rao's Bright Tutorials and other organisation. In 2009, he was offered a position in Mulana University, Ambala (Haryana) to handle the sports activities but he did not join. He has also worked with Accurate Institute of Management and Technology, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. During the end of 2009, he joined an Edu Sports (A Leading Sports Management Company).In March 2010, he was offered the position of Project Officer- Sport with Sports Functional Area of Organising Committee Commonwealth Games, Delhi 2010 where he worked along with Mr.Willim Patrick Clinch who was competition manager for Cycling Sport. Neeraj Kumar Mehra has worked with State Council of Educational Research and Training, New Delhi from August 2011 to April 2017 where he was posted in District Institute of Education and training, Daryaganj and District Institute of Education and Training, KeshaPuram in New Delhi.

Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India

He has worked with Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports from April 2017 to April 2018 and August 2018 to August 2019 and handled various important responsibilities related to national schemes of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Elite Athletes Identification Committee, Target Olympic Podium (TOP), National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), Corporate Social Responsibility in Sports, Office of Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Matters related to National Youth Advisory Council, International Cooperation Cell (IC), Human Resource Development in Sports (HRDS), National Sports University (NSU), National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSS&R), National Centre for Sports Coaching (NCSC), Matters related to Cabinet Communications, Right to Information regarding NSU, NCSS&R, NCSC, Khelo India School Games, Cash Awards to Medal Winners of Asian Games, Out of Pocket Allowance to Athletes (OPA), DBT, PFMS etc.

He has led Indian delegations in Imagine Peace Youth Camp, Olympia Praxis Summer Programme, International Session for International Olympic Academy Participants Association, International Session for Directors of National Olympic Academies.He is decorated with John. S. Latsis Fellowship - 2010, Olympia Alliance Fellowship - 2013, Olympic Solidarity Fellowship - 2014, International Olympic Truce Centre Fellowship - 2014. His academic contribution includes Resource Person/Expert (National & International) (15), Presentations (National & International) (20), Member – (National Committees) – 07, Academic Projects (02) etc. He has travelled widely for professional assignments at Greece, Nepal, South Africa, Latvia & USA, Korea & UK.

He has published 4 research papers and one Article, 3 Abstract and coauthored 8 books for undergraduate students. His language proficiency includes English, Hindi, Punjabi (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening: Advance level), Greek and French (Basic Level). He has NCC – C Certificate ‘B’ Grade Holder, NSS- Head Volunteer at School Level. He has also successfully supervised One Month Internship for Master Level Student from France. He is also the first National Classifier of Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India from the Physical Education field. Neeraj Kumar Mehra has successfully organised and managed 12 Sports and Games Championships, 6 Award Ceremonies, 8 Seminars/Conferences, 19 Workshops and assisted in more than 20 Meetings of Government of India.

Personal life

His wife is Shilpa. She is a graduate and post-graduate from Punjab University, Chandigarh. She is working as Post Graduate Teacher (Sociology) with Directorate of Education, Government of National Capital Territory Delhi.