No pressure of 90m, focus on fitness ahead of World Championships: Neeraj Chopra
New Delhi. Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra, who won the Lausanne Diamond League last week, said on Monday that physical and mental fitness will be the focus ahead of the World Championships in August but there is no pressure to clear the 90m barrier. 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.
He 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 I get injured in the middle of the season, the focus goes on recovery. “He said,” I missed three continental gold level tournaments in between where the weather was good and I could clear the 90m barrier but there was no pressure on it. Not there. Now the Asian Games and World Championship are to be held, so the day the conditions will be there, a throw of 90 meters will take place. The performance was good considering the weather in Lausanne.
He said that now his focus will be on reaching 100 per cent fitness in the World Championship to be held in Budapest, Hungary from August 19 to 27. Chopra said, “So far I have not won gold in the World Championship and this time I have to work hard 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 maintain fitness. Attributing the credit of his consistency in his performance to self-confidence, he said, “I am sure that I will not give up till the sixth throw and sometimes the last throw turns the tide.
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This confidence comes from fitness and practice and that’s why there is no pressure.” 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. Regarding 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 throw does not 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. Just need to have a positive mindset.” With the Diamond League finals to be held in mid-September and Chopra having to play in the Asian Games after that, he will be selective in his ability to play tournaments. He said, “I haven’t decided yet 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 I continue to play now, my fitness may get affected till the World Championship.
He said, “After the Asian Games, there is only eight to 10 months for the Paris Olympics, so the practice has to start soon. After the Tokyo Olympics, I took a long break but that mistake is not to be repeated now. When asked about the match against Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem in the Asian Games, he said, “I would like to see it in India.” Does not see from Pakistan’s point of view. My focus remains on giving my best and I hope the competition is good so that we can motivate each other to give our best.
