NEW DELHI: Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra on Tuesday said he wasn't pleased with the distances he covered with his javelin during the recently-concluded competition season and that his best is yet to come, with the Paris Games just nine months away.
This season, Neeraj became the world champion and successfully defended his Asian Games title, besides finishing second at the Diamond League Finals.
"I feel this year, my performance was short of my best. Next year, I will do my best. I want to say this very clearly that my best is yet to come. I have not felt in a competition for a long time that I have done my best or done near my best," Neeraj said at a promotional event here where he was named the new brand ambassador for Optimum Nutrition.
While accepting that he needed to work on his technique, strength and flexibility for the Paris Olympics, the 25-year-old said that his preparations for the Games will be "very different" from Tokyo.
"Next year, I will improve on my technique and will work more on my strength and flexibility. If I remain 100 percent fit and my groin is all right, I will do well in Paris. The preparations will be very different this time. I have visualised those things and I am confident that I will be able to apply them. My technique wasn't that great at the Hangzhou Asian Games. My legwork was not that good and my blocking leg was bending during throws. But my arm speed was very good which was a big factor. My coach (Dr Klaus Bartonietz) always says that it's 60 percent legs and 40 percent your upper body in javelin throw. So, leg work is very important. I need a lot of improvement in this area. My flexibility is quite good, but personally I feel because of my arm speed, I am doing well," Neeraj said.
Neeraj said that he had consulted a German doctor to treat his groin injury - suffered in the later part of May - and there was nothing serious about it. "The doctor said that it's alright and I can start my training soon. I competed carrying the groin injury at the Worlds and Asiad but there wasn't an iota of doubt about my participation in those meets. Next year, it will mainly be working on my strength and what type of exercises I need to do."
Neeraj said that he will begin his training in another three weeks' time in India, either at NIS Patiala or IIS in Bellary, before shifting his base to South Africa in December. "The competition calendar for next season, especially the Diamond League has come but we don't know which legs will have javelin throw. We may know it by December. I will discuss the training programme with the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) division and send a proposal. During winter (in India), I will go to South Africa for training where a lot of good javelin throwers from around the world come. I will do proper strength training for 2-3 months for this groin problem," he said.
Neeraj also informed that he will participate in fewer tournaments leading up to the Paris Olympics. "I will take part in select competitions so that it can fit in my Paris Games preparations. As far as which competitions I will take part in next year, I will be able to tell in December. I pick and choose tournaments so that I can remain injury-free."
Asked about breaching the 90m-mark, the ace javelin thrower said, "6 cm is left to be achieved. It was 89.94m at the Stockholm Diamond League (in June 2022). I was a bit behind the line that time. Had I thrown my javelin by moving a bit ahead, it would have been 90m. Nonetheless, it will happen soon…maybe next year."
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