Tokyo Olympics: Neeraj Chopra is India’s biggest hope for a medal at the Tokyo Olympics. And the young javelin thrower is leaving no stones unturned to make it a reality. With a little over 200 days before he arrives in Tokyo, Chopra has made a new year resolution – break his existing personal record of 88.06m. “I have set a target for me for 2021 and I want to reach it step by step. My first target is to break my personal best (88.06m) and then will try to go past the 90m mark),” the 2018 Asian Games gold medallist said.
Chopra had missed all of 2019 due to an elbow injury to his throwing arm. However, he surprised everyone in his first competition after comeback with a throw of 87.86 metres in January at the ACNE League in Potchefstroom, South Africa. With it he confirmed his Olympic berth.
The 23-year-old continued his training in South Africa under coach Bartonietz Klaus with an aim to participate at the Diamond Leauge Circuit. But the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games gold medal winner was confined to his room at the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala and hence was could not participate.
Training at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhuvneshwar, Chopra reflecting on progress in 2020, said: “because of the pandemic, I lost a year without full training and competitions. Thankfully, we at least were able to resume the national camp. My training is now progressing in a scientific manner. I am looking forward to 2021 and winning medals at the Olympics,” he said.
Chopra is confident, he will hit the right chords soon and return to winning ways ahead of the quadrennial event. He believes that the faith the country has put in him will act as a boost to his Olympic dream. “I feel honoured that the country has shown faith in me to win an Olympic medal. It is a big confidence booster for me,” he concluded.