As India prepares for its first “National Javelin Day” on August 7 to mark the anniversary of Neeraj Chopra’s historic Olympic gold medal, the 24-year-old is hoping to bring a first World Senior Championship medal to the celebrations.
Chopra, the son of a farmer, became the first Indian to win Olympic gold in track and field last year in Tokyo with a jump of 87.58 meters.
While following the athlete with Bollywood good looks, the superstar remains focused on pushing the boundaries in a sport that is being eclipsed in cricket-mad India, and Chopra is making his way to the world, to break new ground.
Chopra, who hails from the northern Indian state of Haryana – better known for producing wrestlers and kabaddi players – threw a personal best of 89.30m at last month’s Paavo Nurmi Games before taking it to 89.94 at the Stockholm Diamond League m improved.
“I’m close to 90m,” said Chopra, who finished second to Grenada’s reigning world champion Anderson Peters in Stockholm. “I know I can throw it this year.
“A lot of guys are able to throw over 90 meters now. In Eugene you need more than 89 meters to win.”
The victory in Eugene, Oregon means Chopra will become the first men’s javelin thrower to follow an Olympic triumph with a world title since Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen in 2008-09.
‘NO PRESSURE’
Chopra said being the reigning Olympic champion would not put any pressure on him ahead of the July 15-24 World Championships.
“It shouldn’t happen because I’m playing with a clear mind and fulfilling my potential,” he added. “There is no pressure… I train well and I give 100 percent in competitions.”
Chopra’s chances have improved after Johannes Vetter, who has the second-best throw ever, was retired after the German picked up a shoulder injury, while Peters was dealing with a back problem.
Long jumper Anju Bobby George remains the only Indian to win a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships. Chopra – dubbed the “man with the golden arm” by the country’s media – looks set to continue his winning streak.
On the Gold Coast in 2018, the former world junior champion became just the third man to win track and field gold for India at the Commonwealth Games, after sprinter Milkha Singh in 1958 and discus thrower Vikas Gowda in 2014.
He then went on to win gold at the Asian Games in Jakarta before becoming a household name with his Olympic win, which meant he spent the second half of last year being celebrated by an enthusiastic nation and only returned to training in December picked up.