Neeraj Chopra Sets Sights on World Championship After Stellar Season

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Neeraj Chopra, India's illustrious javelin thrower and two-time Olympic medalist, wrapped up his competitive season with a commendable silver medal at the Paris Olympics and a similar finish at the Diamond League finale in Brussels. As he returns to India, the 26-year-old is gearing up for an ambitious next chapter, eyeing the 2025 World Championships as his primary target.

In a recent interaction with PTI Videos at a conference titled 'Mission Olympics 2036' held at the Sports University of Haryana in Sonepat, Chopra emphasized, "The season is over now. The biggest target for next year is the World Championship, and we will begin preparations for that now. The Olympics are always on our minds, but we have four years for that." The World Championships are set to take place from September 13 to 21, 2025.

Overcoming Adversities

This past season was not without its challenges for Chopra, who battled an adductor muscle injury that hindered his performance throughout the year. This issue, compounded by a fractured left hand, affected his results at both the Olympics and the Diamond League finale.

Reflecting on his physical condition, Chopra reassured fans, saying, "Injury is fine now, I will be 100 per cent fit for the new season." He expressed his commitment to improving his technique with the help of his coach, renowned German biomechanics expert Klaus Bartonietz. "Technical issues are also there but we will work on them. I do like to train in India, but when competitions start, I prefer to train abroad," he added.

Despite not yet surpassing the coveted 90-meter mark, Chopra remains undeterred. His silver throw of 89.45 meters at the Paris Olympics was a close contest, with Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem clinching gold with a record-breaking 92.97 meters. At the Diamond League finale, Chopra's throw of 87.86 meters narrowly missed the top spot by just a single centimeter. However, he stated, "I am not worried about the elusive 90m mark."

Reflecting on Olympic Performance

Chopra also took the opportunity to reflect on India's overall performance at the Olympics, where the country secured six medals, albeit without a gold. He expressed that India could have achieved more, considering the numerous fourth-place finishes.

"It was a brilliant performance in the Paralympics this time. We won a lot of medals. I feel the Olympics performance was also pretty good as there were a lot of fourth positions," he remarked.

He lauded fellow athletes like Sumit Antil and Navdeep for their impressive performances under pressure, stating, "Navdeep is a very good guy. I have met Sumit Antil before and the way they performed under pressure and won gold was very good."

Looking ahead, Chopra expressed optimism for future competitions, stating, "In the coming times, we expect strong performances in both the Olympics and the Paralympics."

Chopra's unwavering determination and strategic approach to his training signify his readiness to tackle the challenges ahead and continue his pursuit of excellence on the global stage.