Olympic Champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra. FIle
| Photo Credit: PTI
He has single-handedly raised the profile of Indian athletics internationally and Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra now needs the nation to go a notch greater within the pecking order by internet hosting global occasions within the subsequent two-three years.
India is ready to bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships however Chopra stated the nation can host different global competitions of smaller scale earlier than that.
“It will be good if we host 2029 World Championships but 2029 is a long way to go. I think India can host some big global competitions like Continental Tour event (of World Athletics) before that,” Chopra informed PTI in an interview felicitated by Switzerland Tourism.
“This kind of global event (like Continental Tour event) will keep Indian fans interested in athletics. If international track and field stars come to India and compete against Indian athletes, it will be good for the country’s athletes as well as for the fans,” he opined.
Continental Tour is an annual collection of observe and area competitions held beneath the aegis of World Athletics. It varieties the second tier of worldwide one-day conferences after the Diamond League.
The reigning world champion stated holding global occasions in India will even create consciousness amongst followers. He additionally stated that reside telecast or streaming of global occasions like Diamond League Meetings, particularly the place Indian athletes are competing, must be simply obtainable for Indian followers.
Chopra, who’s targetting a profitable defence of his Olympic gold in Paris Games this yr, stated he’ll begin competing in May. That means, his pre-Olympic competitors schedule might be of two months or somewhat over that. The Paris Games start on July 26.
“I am yet to chalk out a final plan. Probably, we will do that in March. But most probably I will start competition in May,” he stated.
The Doha leg of the Diamond League is scheduled for May 10 and he had began his season final yr from the Qatar capital in the identical prestigious competitors.
The 26-year-old Chopra is presently in Switzerland for a “pre-planned” quick trip. During the course of his keep, he met tennis legend Roger Federer, who’s the global ambassador of Switzerland Tourism, in Zurich. He might be returning to South Africa for coaching quickly.
“It’s a dream come true for me to meet Roger Federer in Zurich. I have always admired his skill, his spirit of true sportsmanship and his ability to inspire millions around the world,” Chopra stated about his assembly with Federer.
“What inspired me the most was his humility and his easy-going charm that made me feel so comfortable in his presence. We had a wonderful time exchanging notes about our respective passions and life’s experiences on and off the field,” stated Chopra, who’s Switzerland Tourism’s Friendship Ambassador to India.
Asked which points of his recreation he would work on earlier than the Olympics, Chopra stated, “I will work a bit on technique and then on strength.
“Also, I need to stay injury-free. In the previous few years, there have been small accidents which triggered interruptions in my schedule. So, I’ve to additionally work on small workouts to save lots of myself from accidents.
“There should not be any distractions because of those kind of small injuries. I want to be fully fit and give my best in Paris. That is my focus,” he signed off.
