His “amazing athleticism” has left even the enduring Michael Johnson in awe lately and India’s Neeraj Chopra has now set himself a goal within the new 12 months: breach the 90-metre mark along with his javelin. After the historic gold in Tokyo, the 24-year-old Olympic champion javelin thrower has continued to boost expectations with a silver on the World Championships, earlier than including one other feather in his cap by successful the Diamond League Finals gold. However, regardless of his superlative reveals, the magical 90m mark continues to elude him.

“In this new year, I hope I will put an end to this question,” Chopra informed reporters in a video interplay from England the place he is doing low season coaching.

He got here agonisingly shut along with his 89.94m throw when he completed second within the Stockholm leg of the distinguished Diamond League.

In hindsight, Chopra thinks he might have achieved the mark in Stockholm.

“I could have done that if I landed my foot a few centimetres ahead.” “Yes, it’s just a matter of six centimeters — but a magical mark for an athlete. Whenever you talk about a top athlete we all say like this he’s done 90m.

“But I’m not bothered in regards to the stress of expectations. It will occur when it has to. It might have occurred final 12 months or the 12 months earlier than, however perhaps God has saved an ideal time and place for that.” He’s not bogged down by the pressure of expectations and said he always took them positively.

“I do not assume a lot in regards to the expectations. Yes, it’s important to deal with each your individual and others’ expectations. But when I’m competing, my thoughts goes clean.

“It’s about giving it your all, your 100 percent thinking that you have prepared for just this day. And somewhere these expectations from the people who love me play a positive part.” The penultimate 12 months earlier than the Paris Olympics has a number of vital occasions lined up, together with the rescheduled Asian Games in Hangzhou, and Chopra stated they’re but to take a name on when to start out preparations.

“Basically, I’ve got three big events this year — the World Championships, Asian Games and the Diamond League Final.

“About when to start out, I’ve not considered it. I’ll plan with the coach assessing the state of affairs in China. If it occurs as per schedule in October, we could begin the season a bit late in order that we will stretch it until the Asian Games.” Keeping that in mind, Chopra is just focused on strength building exercises in the indoor training in England and when they shift their training base to South Africa he would switch to javelin throws.

“I’m primarily doing shoulder power workout routines. Lifting heavy balls, weighing about 8-10kg for constructing energy and power. I’m additionally throwing heavy balls of about 1.8-2kg. From our subsequent camp in South Africa, the place the climate can be good we will begin with the javelin.” Recently, four-time Olympic gold medal winner Johnson posted a video of Chopra and praised his athleticism, saying he’s “a javelin thrower with the actions of a sprinter/jumper”.

Asked about Johnson’s praise, Chopra said, “I can by no means do dash. Their velocity is at totally different stage. Maybe he appreciated my methods and my workout routines. and my response was simply in a humorous manner.

“But yes, if I ever bump into him, I will sprint a bit and show him a bit of my skills. As for me, I’m just focused on improving on my javelin throws.” An injured Chopra couldn’t defend his gold on the Birmingham Commonwealth Games owing to an harm however his compatriots, comparable to lengthy jumper Murali Sreeshankar and steeplechaser Avinash Sable, clinched historic silver whereas competing among the many world’s prime pool.

Also triple jumpers Eldhose Paul and Abdulla Aboobacker had a prime two end as India achieved their second-best medal haul after the 2010 Delhi CWG with one gold, 4 silver and three bronze.

Chopra believes Indian athletics is on the rise and hopes to see extra wonderful days forward.

“In world athletics, our men’s field ranking is 9, it’s a good thing. I think we will do better as athletes.” “Whenever I talk to anyone, I feel they are all positive and clear in their mindset. The likes of Sreeshankar, Eldhose, Sable, they no longer go just to participate, they go to do their best and compete among the top. I don’t think I’ve anything more to offer them. I have full faith in them,” he signed off.

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