Neeraj Chopra Prepares for Tough Commonwealth Games Challenge
Neeraj Chopra's Anticipation for Commonwealth Games
Doha [Qatar], June 18: As he gears up for his return to competitive sports, India's Olympic gold medalist and former world champion in javelin throw, Neeraj Chopra, expressed that this year's Commonwealth Games will present a significant challenge, with numerous athletes having achieved throws of 90 meters or more. Reflecting on his historic 90.23 m throw at the same venue last year, he remarked that it was "not technically sound."
Following his performance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last year, where he finished eighth and was outperformed by Sachin Yadav, Neeraj is set to compete in the Doha leg of the Diamond League on Friday. This venue holds sentimental value for him, as he made headlines with his 90.23 m throw last year, coached by the legendary Czech javelin thrower Jan Zelezny, which put an end to doubts about his ability to surpass the 90 m mark.
This time, however, Neeraj faces new competition from Asia, including Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage, the current world leader with a remarkable throw of 92.62 m at the Rome Diamond League earlier this month, and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who holds the Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 m.
"All of them have surpassed the 90 m mark, making the Commonwealth Games as competitive as the Olympics or World Championships; it will be a formidable contest," Chopra stated during a press conference in Doha, as reported by a sports media outlet.
Regarding his impressive throw last year, Neeraj shared that he believes he could have achieved an even greater distance. "Technically, that throw was not optimal. It was quick from the arm, but with better lower body technique, I could have added two to three meters," he explained.
To qualify for the Commonwealth Games, Neeraj must reach the mark of 82.61 m set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). The Games are scheduled to take place in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2 this year. If he qualifies, Neeraj aims to reclaim the gold medal he won at the Gold Coast in 2018. He missed the 2022 Birmingham edition due to injury, where Arshad Nadeem secured the gold with a record throw of 90.18 m.
Reflecting on his experience in Tokyo last year, where his best throw was only 84.03 m, Neeraj noted that competing may have been detrimental due to an injury he sustained prior to the event. "I had an injury before the Tokyo World Championships. We put in a lot of effort and competed, but I don't believe it was the right choice since I was aware of my issues," he said. "However, it was the last competition, so I chose to participate."
After months of rehabilitation, Neeraj feels "really good and fit" to return to competition.
He also confirmed that he has resumed working with his long-time mentor Jaiveer Chaudhary after parting ways with Zelezny earlier this year. Neeraj mentioned that they are focusing on refining his "natural technique" with someone who has been part of his journey for over 15 years. "He understands my history, training plans, and everything, so we are concentrating on my technique," Chopra concluded.