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India Today
12-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
I had only dreamt of these things: Neeraj Chopra on his success streak
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated July 21, 2025)Q. How did it feel to finally cross 90 metres at the Doha Diamond League?The 90-metre mark is just a number that has become a magical mark today. And now that it's done, I'm free of the burden. The idea hereon is to keep throwing as far as I can and I will continue putting in the hard work to do that. The most important thing is that there will be no more questions on crossing 90 metres!advertisementQ. Silver in Doha, followed by gold at the Paris Diamond League. What have you got right this year? Though there was a delay in getting started, the training was really good under coach Jan Zelezny in South Africa. I'm able to follow it in training, but I still need to replicate it in competitions. I'm working on things like the run-up and maintaining my posture while throwing.Q. How does it feel to have an event, the Neeraj Chopra Classic, in your name?I had only dreamt of these things. To have a competition featuring world-class athletes at home is the fruition of another dream, just like winning the Olympics or the World Championships. It's very different from winning a medal, but I feel like through this event, too, I have done something worthwhile for India.Q. What do you envision for the NC Classic going forward?There's a lot to learn from this edition and where we can improve. It only features men this year, but we'll look to add women as well. I hope we can make it an annual event and add more disciplines in the future. I want to think about how I can raise the standard of athletics in to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
NDTV
11-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Neeraj Chopra Points Out Problem Area In His Game, Coach Says: "Don't Go..."
India's star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Friday said he has identified a problem area in his game and is looking to address it at the earliest, as he seeks to win a second world championship gold medal later this year. Chopra, who is the strongest Indian medal hope in the September 13-21 showpiece in Tokyo, will be training in Prague and Nymburk in the Czech Republic for 57 days along with his legendary coach Jan Zelezny. He will be heading out with his physio Ishan Marwah tonight and be based in the European country till September 5 at a total cost of Rs 19 lakh. "I have already identified the areas I need to work on. While throwing the spear I tend to fall too much on my left side. We need to work on that. In training I don't do that, but in competition, it happens because of the extra effort I put in," Chopra said. "Coach is saying don't go too much on left and we are working a lot on this area because the power and strength which I need to put in javelin I tend to waste it. We are also working a lot on run-up. "In some competitions like Paris Diamond League and Doha Diamond League it was good but in Bengaluru it wasn't because there was a bit of headwind also. In Ostrava, I had the feeling that I can throw well but the run-up and technique wasn't good," he added. The double Olympic medallist said he also needs to work on his consistency to hit the 90-mark more often. "I have achieved 90m this year. But I need to be more consistent to achieve it more often. I am continuously around 88-89m, and my coach said he is happy, but I need to be more consistent," Chopra said during the launch of Under Armour store at the Ambience Mall here. Needless to say, his next big target is to finish on top of the podium at the World Athletics Championships to be held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21 this year. "My next target is the world championships and I want to win there. Before the world championships, I will plan with my coach and see which event I can compete to best prepare for it," Chopra said. Chopra has high regards for his new coach Jan Zelezny, who he idolises. "My coach is very good, he has been a very good, legendary athlete. As a person also he is very helpful. He is working a lot on my technique. I do well in training but in competitions I am not being able to get the technique right. I tend to mix up old and new technique," he said. Asked about his plans for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Chopra said: "There is still time to think and plan about Olympics, why to take tension about it now. But the process is on. There is no point in thinking about future, need to go step by step." The Indian ace recently hosted the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic, a world-level javelin throw event in Bengaluru, and he is overwhelmed the by response the tournament got. "Feeling very good, it was tough. I was wondering will it be successful, will people come to watch. But people came, almost 15,000 plus crowd was there. People enjoyed and loved the event. "The experience was different and I was a little worried because the competition was after my name. I was working on all small details, from food to lodging, taking good care of foreign athletes. The feeling here was that I had invited them for a treat at my home." Chopra said his coach too was very happy that he could bring a world-class javelin event to India. "He was happy and thanked me that I brought a javelin event to India. He is very close to javelin, he has given his entire life to it and still working on it as a coach." It was also the first time that Chopra participated in front of his family, something he will cherish for a long time. "My family came to Bengaluru and they felt really good, first time my family members saw me competing live. In fact my mother started crying when I fell on my first throw. My grandfather was also there, he took his first flight, he is 75 plus now," he said. Chopra now wants the next generation of Indian javelin throwers to better his feats. "I want the next generation Indian javelin throwers to go one step above me. I want them to be the best and be mentally and physically strong. They should have belief that they can do it." He also said that the government is fully supporting sports and Indian athletes. "We are getting a lot of support from the government, especially those athletes who are preparing for the Olympics. They are getting a lot of help from TOPS. A lot of rules are changing for athletes. I also hope that we have more qualified Indian coaches," Chopra said.
France 24
11-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
India's Chopra wants coach Zelezny's big-stage mindset
Chopra joined Czech javelin legend Jan Zelezny's coaching group ahead of the 2025 season and last weekend won the inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru, stretching his streak of top-two finishes to 25 events. "He always performed in big tournaments and I am trying to pick his mindset of a big-stage performer and that will help me," Chopra told reporters on Friday at an event organised by one of his sponsors near New Delhi. "The main target this year is the Tokyo World Championships and we are working towards it." The World Championships are in September. The 27-year-old Chopra won an Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021 and silver in Paris last year. He took the last world title in Budapest in 2023. Zelezny won four Olympic medals, three of them gold, and three world titles in a career that lasted more than 20 years. "I am happy to work with him because he has been a consistent performer," Chopra said. "He is a very good coach. He has been a good athlete and is very helpful as a person." Chopra passed 90 metres for the first time when he threw 90.23m in the Doha Diamond League meeting in May - only to finish second to German Julian Weber. Zelezny "is working on my technique", Chopra said, adding that he was taking time to adapt. "In training it is good but I have still not been able to grasp and implement his styles on competition days. I get mixed with the old and the new styles, but hopefully I will get the hang of it and it will bear results." Chopra's success, his boyish looks and his mop of hair have made him a sex symbol in India. His 2021 victory was India's first Olympic track and field gold. He said he hopes to start a dynasty. "I want to see better javelin throwers than me in India," he said. "I want the next generation of Indian athletes to be strong mentally and physically and have self-belief to go the distance." © 2025 AFP
Deccan Herald
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Deccan Herald
I have identified a problem area and working on it: Neeraj Chopra
Chopra, who is the strongest Indian medal hope in the September 13-21 showpiece in Tokyo, will be training in Prague and Nymburk in the Czech Republic for 57 days along with his legendary coach Jan Zelezny.
India Today
05-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Neeraj Chopra Classic Live Updates: Huge crowd cheers India's Olympic hero
At the NC Classic, each thrower gets three attempts to begin with. After these, the top eight athletes based on their best distances move forward, while the bottom four are eliminated. The throwing order is then reshuffled in the reverse order of standings, so that the leader throws last before proceeding to the fourth and fifth throws. After the fifth round, the order is reshuffled once more for the sixth and final throw, again based on current rankings. This gives the top contend- ers a dramatic finish as they throw last. A huge roar for Neeraj Chopra. Wearing a green jumper, the two-time Olympic medalist has begun his warm-ups. He has been joined by his coach and javelin great Jan Zelezny. The Bengaluru crowd roared when Zelezny was introduced at the NC Classic. Knowledgable! Neeraj also had a quick worth with the volunteers out there. That's the organiser's side of him? Keep in mind, he is the host of the event along with JSW Sports. Here's a look at the cowd in one of the biggest stands at the Stree Kanteerava Stadium. The venue is 50 percent full. We are still 90 minutes away from the start of the competition. This is huge. Neeraj Chopra, the organiser, will be thrilled. Neeraj Chopra is committed to making the Neeraj Chopra classic an even bigger event with the addition of more sporting events. "As I said, we are going to add more events. So our Indian athletes who do well at the global level, will get a chance in India to compete among other good athletes. So, we intend to increase this event further," said Chopra. It's quite windy out here at Sree Kanteerava Stadium. And the win is blowing against the trajectory of the throws. It's not good news for those who have come here to watch big throws. The weather, however, is holding up. It's not hot, it's cloudy and pleasant as always. Here's the start list and the personal and season bests of each of the 12 throwers today. NC CLASSIC: THE START LIST Indians Neeraj Chopra (IND) - PB and SB: 90.23m Sachin Yadav (IND) - PB and SB: 85.16m Rohit Yadav (IND) - PB: 83.41m | SB: 80.47m Sahil Silwal (IND) - PB: 81.81m | SB: 77.84m Yash Vir Singh (IND) - PB and SB: 82.57m Overseas Stars Thomas Rhler (GER) - PB 93.90m | SB: 80.79m Julius Yego (KEN) - PB 92.72m | SB: 83.08m Cyprian Mrzygld (POL) - PB and SB: 85.92m Luiz Maurcio da Silva (BRA) - PB and SB: 86.62m Curtis Thompson (USA) - PB and SB: 87.76m Martin Konecn (CZE) - PB and SB: 80.59m Rumesh Pathirage (SRI) - PB and SB: 85.45m The sun has hidden behind the clouds. It's overcast. The lights at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium will come into effect soon. The atmosphere is lively. While the VIP stands are yet to fill, the school kids are putting on a scene. It's so wonderful to watch the turn out for this historic javelin event. The Sree Kanteerava Stadium is slowly filling up. There are plenty of school kids who have come to see the javelin event in action. Imagine the impact these champions will have on these young minds. One of them might pick up a spear and go on to become a champion in the future. Isn't that what Neeraj dreamt of? Read: Neeraj Chopra Classic: Fueled by dreams, friendships and hope for a better future The Neeraj Chopra Classic is the embodiment of Chopra's long-held dream. Having seen packed stands in cities like Tokyo, Paris, Doha and Lausanne, Neeraj had yearned for something similar back home. Now, he has brought top competitors to India and offered the younger generation in the sport an opportunity to enjoy the spotlight that he has so often basked in. The preparations are in full swing at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru as we're just over an hour away from the main event. Our man Akshay Ramesh provides more updates from ground zero. Several budding athletes have come up to watch Neera Chopra in action. 'We've never seen him live. We want to watch our hero in action,' says one of their coaches. There's massive cloud cover at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru at the moment. Neeraj Chopra's jersey is being sold outside the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. The venue is expected to be packed to the rafters as a massive influx of crowd is expected to witness Chopra compete alongside the several top contenders from across the globe. Julius Yego and Thomas Rhler will be amongst the favourites. Watch out for Curtis Thompson and Rumesh Pathirage, who can produce a big 85m-plus throw. Sachin Yadav will also be licking his lips to make a mark and become a household name. The NC Classic will be Neeraj's sixth meeting of 2025. He heads into the competition off the back of wins at the Paris Diamond League (88.16m) and Ostrava Golden Spike (85.29m) in June. Neeraj breached the 90m mark for the first time in his career earlier this year at the Doha Diamond League. He holds the second-best throw of the season (90.23m). Only Julian Weber of Germany has thrown farther-91.06m in Doha this season. Former world champion Anderson Peters has pulled out of the Neeraj Chopra Classic citing injury. Peters, who was expected to be Neeraj's biggest rival in the competition, decided to skip the Bengaluru event due to an injury sustained in the last competition he played in France. Here's a walk-through of the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru one day ahead of the event by our man Akshay Ramesh. Neeraj Chopra has been the fan favourite in the Indian scene for a long time. And that affection has shown in Bengaluru. 400 km. One dream. Incredible spirit. A fan's journey to meet Neeraj Chopra at the Neeraj Chopra Classic ended with smiles, selfies, and autographs from the champion himself. 💛🏅#NeerajChopraClassic #javelin #athletes #GameOfThrows #eventday — Neeraj Chopra Classic (@nc_classic) July 5, 2025 Our man Akshay Ramesh is sending some early details from the ground. Here's what the order of throw is going to look like: Sahil Silwal (India) Rohit Yadav (India) Martin Konecny (Czech Republic) Thomas Rohler (Germany) Yashvir Singh (India) Julius Yego (Kenya) Sachin Yadav (India) Rumesh Pathirage (Sri Lanka) Cyprian Mrzyglod (Poland) Luiz Mauricio Da Silva (Brazil) Curtis Thompson (USA) Neeraj Chopra (India) Neeraj Chopra: Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has already etched his name in the history books by becoming the first track and field athlete from the country to win an Olympic gold medal. He is also a world champion - India's first-ever in senior athletics - and a Diamond League winner, also a first by any Indian. His personal best is 90.23m. Sachin Yadav: Sachin holds a personal best of 85.16m. The Asian Championships silver medallist recently secured gold medals at both Federation Cup and the National Games this year. Rohit Yadav: The 24-year-old Rohit, with a personal best of 83.40m achieved in 2023, underwent surgery that year and returned to competition subsequently. He claimed a silver medal at the National Games 2025 with 80.47m. Sahil Silwal: Sahil, 24, represents another promising talent in the 80m category, holding a personal best of 81.81m from his gold-winning performance at last year's National Inter-State Championships. He secured third position at the Federation Cup with a 77.84m throw. He won the gold medal at the Winckelmann Games 2024 athletics meet in Germany with a 75.36m throw. Yashvir Singh: Yashvir Singh has a personal best of 82.57m, which came at the 2025 Asian Championships in Gumi, Korea. Yashvir first came into limelight when he rewrote Neeraj Chopra's U-20 Fed Cup meet record in 2021 with a 78.68m throw. Thomas Rohler (Germany): Germany's Thomas Rohler is 2016 Olympics champion and one of the sport's all-time greats. His personal best is 93.90m. Julius Yego (Kenya): The Kenyan athlete Yego, who is a 2015 World champion and 2016 Olympic silver medallist, has been trailblazing javelin's rise in Africa. His personal best is 92.72m. Curtis Thompson (USA): Curtis Thompson is a top-ranked American javelin thrower, Pan American Games champion (2023) and a consistent performer on the Diamond League circuit with a personal best of 87.76m. Martin Konecny (Czech Republic): Martin Konecny is a 27-year-old javelin thrower from the Czech Republic. He has established himself as a competitive athlete in the javelin, with his personal best record being 80.59 meters, achieved in 2025. Konecny has participated in various international competitions, including the European Athletics Championships, where he qualified for the final in 2022, finishing in 12th place. He is a notable figure in Czech javelin throwing and has been consistently amongst the top performers in his country. Luiz Mauricio Da Silva (Brazil): A South American powerhouse with multiple podium finishes at the South American Athletics Championships across various age categories. His personal best is 86.62m. Rumesh Pathirage (Sri Lanka): A rising star from the subcontinent, Pathirage recently set a new national record and claimed gold at the Asian Throwing Championships last year. His personal best is 85.45m. Cyprian Mrzygod (Poland): The 27-year-old Polish athlete, Cyprian, is European U23 champion, winning the gold medal in 2019. His personal best is 85.92 metres, set in Kuortane this year.
