“Anything is possible at Paris Olympics”: ‘Golden boy’ Neeraj Chopra athletics news

India’s javelin stars will begin the outdoor season with a renewed sense of ‘confidence’ in the Doha leg of the Diamond League on May 10. The challenge will be led by world and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and his partner Kishore Jena. The returns from some intensive overseas training under top coaches will also be assessed at events including the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar on 14-15 May ahead of Paris 2024. Chopra and Jena, who achieved historic gold-silver medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games, have both qualified for the upcoming Summer Olympics in July-August, but Chopra, the poster boy of Indian athletics, believes that the third javelin thrower – DP Manu – Hain. Paris cut should also be made.

“There was a time when I was not even confident about qualifying for the World Championships, but look how times have changed. Last year in Budapest we had three Indians (out of the top six) in the final and that has given us confidence That we are no less than the Europeans who have dominated the world javelin throw for so long,” Chopra said in an interview with SAI media. We have to carry forward this belief from Budapest that anything is possible in Paris.”

expectations are high #paris2024

Relive World Athletics Championships 2023 with Javelin World Champion @Neeraj_Chopra1 On this @Media_SAI Unique!

as our #TOPScheme Athlete shares her Budapest memories, gives us even more reasons #Cheer4India@#paris2024, pic.twitter.com/yLjWPN4wsG

-SAI Media (@Media_SAI) 9 May 2024

Manu is in line to join Chopra and Jenna at DP Paris 2024. Manu is yet to cross the qualifying standard of 85.50m but is comfortably placed at 11th in the Road to Paris rankings. This should be enough to get him a ticket to Paris unless several others overtake him and he is unable to improve his distance.

Recently at the Indian Grand Prix I in Bengaluru, DP Manu won the men’s javelin throw event with an effort of 81.91m, surpassing the Paris Olympics qualification mark of 85.50m and his personal best of 84.35m. Manu was training in Potchefstroom, South Africa with his coach Kashinath Naik, a former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist.

In the run up to the new outdoor season and the Olympics, proper and intensive training has been a top priority for the javelin throwers and all three – Chopra, Jenna and Manu – have benefited from the government’s Target Olympic Podium scheme which funds athletes to prepare. at global events, particularly the Summer Games.

In the current Paris Olympics cycle, the government has spent over Rs 4.87 crore on these three javelin throwers, with Chopra alone getting around Rs 4 crore. Major expenses include training and competition-related equipment, coach salaries and out-of-pocket allowances.

Chopra said she has always paid attention to her overseas training and chosen her competition schedule carefully so that she is fully prepared before a major global event. It will be no different from Paris onwards.

“The whole scenario changes when you reach the Games Village. The real pressure starts building then. But I have to be prepared,” Chopra said.

The talented 26-year-old Chopra credited her preparation to the training she took abroad at various international centers in Finland, South Africa, UK and Turkey at different times.

The reigning Diamond League champion said, “After Tokyo, I learned how international athletes plan their schedules and select their training centers to ensure minimal travel, quick acclimatization and preparation for a major event. Have a proper diet. These are the finer details I suggest you discuss with your coach and once the decision is made, we contact TOPS for assistance, it has worked well for us.”

He said, “Success depends on teamwork. My coach and physio contribute a lot. The coach reviews my technique and we talk about what is the best style for me. We have a gym for strength training. Having an expert plan has been important.”

Chopra, a foodie at heart, says adjusting to a proper diet is part of a process that has helped her get better. It’s also a sacrifice of sorts for a Haryanvi boy, who loves his homemade churma (made from crushed Indian bread, sugar and ghee) and gulab jamun (a traditional fried Indian sweet made from milk and flour) with ice cream. Is.

Chopra said, “Yes, you have to get used to some bland food. In the beginning, it was hard when I was not getting Indian food, but I have got used to this less tasty food.” He said his diet is largely vegetarian. ,

Chopra stressed that “confidence” will play a key role moving forward from Doha, cautioning that performance can never be guaranteed.

“It will depend on how we perform on the day. I strongly believe that we have all been training hard and repeating Budapest is not impossible,” Chopra said.

Indian superstar Chopra, who won the gold medal in Doha last year with a world-leading throw of 88.67m, will start as the favorite in a field that is expected to include Jakub Vadlage (Czech), Anderson Peters (Grenada), Max. Dehning (Germany) and Jena among others.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)