The 25-year-old athlete has achieved remarkable success, clinching gold medals at the Olympics (2021, Tokyo), Asian Games (2018), and Commonwealth Games (2018). Additionally, they secured the prestigious title of Diamond League champion in the previous year.
Neeraj Chopra, the renowned Indian javelin thrower, is gearing up for the World Championships, set to commence this Saturday, with a significant accolade eluding his remarkable career – a World Championships gold. The competition’s landscape appears wide open, lacking a clear favorite, which positions the 25-year-old superstar in a favorable light.
Neeraj Chopra boasts an impressive resume, having clinched gold medals at the Olympics (Tokyo 2021), Asian Games (2018), and Commonwealth Games (2018). Additionally, he secured the Diamond League championship in the previous year. Neeraj’s notable achievements also include a silver medal in the 2022 World Championships, which fuels his potential for claiming gold this time around.
While Neeraj senses proximity to breaching the elusive ’90m mark’, his return from injury makes him refrain from setting a specific target for the upcoming event. He expresses confidence that under the right weather conditions, he can achieve the desired throw.
Neeraj emphasizes that his focus lies on the competition itself, rather than fixating on throwing distance or medals. His paramount concern is to compete without the burden of injury concerns or mental barriers.
The absence of a clear frontrunner among the top javelin throwers highlights the unpredictability of the August 27 final. Preceding the final, the qualification round is slated for two days earlier.
Among the contenders vying for gold alongside Neeraj are Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, who secured silver in Tokyo, Germany’s Julian Weber, and the defending champion Anderson Peters.
Neeraj’s preparations have seen him excel in two premier competitions this season – clinching gold in both the Doha and Lausanne Diamond League meets. With a substantial training period following nearly two months of rest, Neeraj exudes readiness for the impending grand event.
Acknowledging the challenging nature of maintaining consistency among the world’s finest athletes, Neeraj remains resolute in his pursuit to deliver his best performance, with an optimistic outlook on emerging even stronger.
Accompanying Neeraj in the men’s javelin throw category are his compatriots DP Manu and Kishore Jena. Notably, Jena faced a visa setback from the Hungarian embassy, causing concerns, but the issue was subsequently resolved.
In other events where Indian athletes participate, the prospect of a medal in men’s long jump remains viable. Jeswin Aldrin (8.42m) and Murali Sreeshankar (8.41m) have set the pace on the world list this season, hinting at their competitive edge.