Neeraj Chopra, India’s Olympic javelin champion, expressed his desire to break the 90-metre barrier at the Doha Diamond League in preparation for the Paris Games. Despite already securing Olympic and world titles, as well as a second Asian Games gold, Chopra is yet to reach this milestone. The 26-year-old athlete from Haryana aims to achieve the elite 90m club status and surpass the world record of 98.48m set by Jan Zelezny in 1996. Despite setbacks, including elbow surgery and challenging weather conditions, Chopra remains determined to reach his goal.
Chopra, who set a personal best of 89.94 in 2022, hopes to break the 90m mark in Doha, which is renowned for its ideal throwing conditions. Training outside India in countries like South Africa and Turkey is part of his strategy to focus on the upcoming Paris Olympics. While Chopra enjoys popularity in India, he humbly acknowledges that he is not as celebrated as cricket superstars Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. His primary goal is to maintain his health, improve his technique, and stay focused on his Olympic aspirations.
Despite the pressure to win gold for India in the Olympics, Chopra remains grounded and understands the challenges of competing against the world’s best athletes. He emphasizes the importance of staying healthy and dedicated to his training to achieve success on the international stage. With a strong commitment to his goals and a focus on continuous improvement, Neeraj Chopra is poised to make a mark in the javelin throw event at the Paris Olympics. Stay tuned to witness his journey towards breaking the 90-metre barrier and achieving greatness in the world of athletics.