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Paris Olympic silver medalist Neeraj Chopra has expressed his keen interest in competing against international athletes on Indian soil. The javelin throw sensation, who successfully defended his Olympic medal with a silver at the Paris 2024 Games, admitted to being disappointed with his inability to retain the gold he won in Tokyo. Despite his exceptional performance in Paris, Chopra emphasized his desire to showcase his talent against top international competitors in India. He expressed hope that the country would soon host an international competition to provide a platform for athletes like him to compete domestically.
"It's a dream of mine to compete with other international stars in India. Hopefully, there will be an international competition soon in India and I can do that," Chopra said during an interactive session with fans organised by the Olympics.com as per PTI.
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Looking ahead, Chopra has revealed his intention to modify his throwing angle to generate increased power. He believes this technical adjustment will enhance his performance in future competitions.
"I am entering a new season now. So, I don't have that much time to change training methods or technique. But I hope to improve upon a couple of areas, especially the line of the javelin. You know, the correct angle of throwing so that I get more power in my throw. I will certainly work on it," Chopra added.
Neeraj Chopra Acknowledges Arshad Nadeem's Dominance
Neeraj Chopra's personal best stands at an impressive 89.94 meters, achieved during the 2022 Diamond League in Stockholm. While he managed a season-best of 89.45 meters in Paris, it was ultimately insufficient to retain his Olympic gold. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem stole the limelight with a historic throw of 92.97 meters, not only securing the gold medal but also breaking Andreas Thorkildsen's Olympic record.
Chopra expressed his determination to match Nadeem's exceptional performance but admitted that his physical condition posed challenges.
“The body conditions (of his) were tough. But when Arshad made that throw...I was able to hit my season's best because the thought was set in my mind that I had to give the best throw because the competition had already become very tough,” Tokyo Olympics gold-medallist concluded.
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