‘Stay Fit’: Neeraj Chopra’s Plans for Packed Season Ahead of Asian Games and Paris Olympics

Neeraj Chopra has been coaching laborious forward of what he calls an ‘important year’ for him with the 2024 Paris Olympics in addition to the 2023 Asian Games simply across the nook.

The Olympic gold-medallist will begin his season on the Diamond League assembly in Doha, which is on May 5, alongside two-time World Athletics Championships gold medallist, Anderson Peters of Grenada and Tokyo Olympics silver medallist, Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic at Doha.

Apart from the star trio, European champion Julian Weber of Germany, former Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott from Trinidad & Tobago and Rio Olympic silver medallist Julius Yego of Kenya may also be on the occasion.

“Preparations going nicely for Doha. South Africa’s coaching focus was on energy, and now engaged on technical elements. Going to be a protracted season – will sit with coach and physio to resolve which competitions to play which to skip,” Neeraj Chopra stated throughout a media interplay on Sunday.

“All our training plans so far have gone well, and the good thing is I’ve been injury-free. The hope is to have a healthy season and stay away from injuries,” he added.

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Neeraj although is trying ahead to the competitors in Doha.

“It’s good when powerful rivals and world-class athletes compete, it serves as motivation and helps me push myself additional,” he said.

Chopra had achieved his personal best of 89.94m last season when he finished second in the Stockholm Diamond League meet but had not competed in Doha last year. While there were reports that he was injured at the time, he clarified: “Was not injured during Doha Diamond League last time. Was short of preparations then. This time that’s not the case. Have competed in Doha before. Just want to go out and do my best.”

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With the Asian Games too scheduled later this yr in China’s Hangzhou, after being postponed by greater than a yr resulting from Covid-19, Neeraj has been coaching laborious with a eager eye on staying match.

“All our training plans so far have gone well, and the good thing is I’ve been injury-free. The hope is to have a healthy season and stay away from injuries,” he stated.

He has had training camps at UK’s Loughborough University, and after a short stay in South Africa’s Potchefstroom, will be at the Gloria Sports Arena in Antalya, Turkiye with coach Dr Klaus Bartonietz and physiotherapist Ishaan Marwaha.

Neeraj’s focus remains on the immediate end goal – that is the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“I still need to do better. My first Olympics were great, but I don’t take anything for granted. There will more expectations from me at Paris 2024. What is in my hands is to give it my 100% and I will train harder than I did for Tokyo,” Neeraj stated.

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When ultimately Neeraj Chopra was requested concerning the 90m mark, a query that he has been prodded with since 2018, he had a solution prepared together with a promise.

“The query is similar and my reply is similar. I’m not overconfident and there’s no stress on me to cross the 90m mark. I by no means took the stress and by no means will. But I shall be higher and cross the mark this season,” he said.

“I fell just 6cm short last season. The 90m club is very famous in the javelin world and hopefully, I will enter the club this season. My main target remains to be consistent,” he added.

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