Neeraj Chopra now aims to win gold in World Championship, no pressure of 90m
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Neeraj Chopra focus on World Championship: Olympic javelin champion who won the Lausanne Diamond League last week Neeraj Chopra The focus will be on physical and mental fitness ahead of the World Championships to be held in August, but there is no pressure to clear the 90m hurdle, said on Monday. Chopra, who missed the top three events due to a hamstring strain, made his comeback at the Diamond League’s Lausanne stage last week with a throw of 87.66m to claim the top spot for the second time in a row. He won the season-opening Diamond League on May 5 in Doha with a career-best fourth throw of 88.67m.
90m no pressure
Neeraj Chopra said in a virtual press conference organized by the Sports Authority of India, ‘Physically and mentally it was much tougher in Lausanne than in Doha because due to injury in the middle, the entire focus remained on it. If there is an injury in the middle of the session, the focus goes on recovery. “In between I missed three continental gold level tournaments where the weather was good and I could clear the 90m hurdle but there is no pressure. Now the Asian Games and World Championship are to be held, so the day the conditions will be there, the throw of 90 meters will be taken. The performance was good considering the weather in Lausanne.
Focus on fitness before World Championship
Neeraj Chopra further said that now his focus will be on getting hundred percent fit in the World Championship to be held in Budapest, Hungary from August 19 to 27. He said, ‘Till now I have not won gold in the World Championship and this time a lot of hard work has to be done to fill this gap. The focus will be on physical fitness and mental toughness. Before that, the selection of tournaments has to be done very carefully so that I remain injury free and fitness is also maintained. Let us tell you that in 2022, Chopra won the silver medal in the World Championship in Eugene, USA.
I will not give up till the last throw: Chopra
Attributing credit to self-confidence for consistency in his performance, he said, ‘I am so sure that I will not give up till the sixth throw and sometimes the last throw turns the tide. This confidence comes from fitness and practice and due to this the pressure is not felt. Chopra usually gives his best in the opening round but had to wait for his fifth attempt to claim the top spot on Friday. By the end of the fourth round, he was in second place.
About this, he said, ‘All the top players keep themselves ready till the last throw. I won the gold medal on the sixth throw in the Asian Championship in Bhubaneswar. I am so sure that even if the first throws don’t go well, I will make up for it in the end. Chopra is not a fan of much change in his technique but continues to make efforts to improve. He said, ‘I do not change the technique because my body has adapted to it. I keep trying to improve, rest is all mind game. It is just necessary to keep positive thinking.
The mistake after the Tokyo Olympics is not to be repeated
The Diamond League final is to be held in the middle of September and after that Chopra has to participate in the Asian Games, so he will play the tournament selectively. He said, ‘I have not yet decided whether I will play in Monaco or not. By the way, I have got 16 Diamond League points (eight in both Doha and Lausanne) which will be enough for the finals. If he continues to play now, his fitness may be affected till the World Championship. He said, ‘After the Asian Games, there is only eight to ten months for the Paris Olympics, so the practice will have to start soon. I had taken a long break after the Tokyo Olympics but that mistake is not to be repeated now.
When asked about the contest with Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem in the Asian Games, he said, ‘I don’t see it from the point of view of India-Pakistan. My focus remains on performing at my best and I hope that the competition will be good so that we can motivate each other to perform at their best.
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