More 90m throws to come this season: Neeraj Chopra

Doha: It was a “bitter-sweet” experience for Neeraj Chopra in the Doha Diamond League, finishing second despite finally breaching the 90m mark but the star Indian javelin thrower is confident of producing more 90m-plus throws with a troubling groin injury is almost healed.

The 27-year-old double Olympic medallist Indian sent his spear to 90.23m in his third attempt to join a list of javelin throwers, led by his current coach Jan Zelezny of Czechia, who had recorded 90m-plus efforts. He became the third Asian and 25th overall to achieve the feat.

However, Weber turned the tables and took the top spot with his sixth and final throw, measuring 91.06m. Chopra was leading before Weber’s final attempt.

With the monkey off his back, Chopra asserted that his best is yet to come and fans can expect more 90m throws this year from him, an elusive mark for him for the last five years.

Now, a confident and injury-free Chopra, looks to fine-tune a few aspects under Zelezny’s tutelage.

Zelezny was roped in as Chopra’s coach in November last year. But Chopra said they have been working together since February only.

“I am very happy with the 90m mark but it’s a little bit of a bitter-sweet experience actually. But never mind, I and my coach are still working on some aspects of my throw. We started working together only in February this year. I am still learning things,” Chopra said after the event.

“I was always feeling something in my groin in the last few years. I did not give my best because of that. This year I feel much better, we will also work on some aspects and so I believe I can throw more than 90m in the upcoming events this year till the World Championships.”

The World Championships will be held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.

Asked about his next goal now that the 90m mark is broken, Chopra said, “My next goal is just 90m. I believe I am ready to throw farther. It’s just the beginning of a long season.

“I am very happy that Jan Zelezny is my coach and we worked very hard in South Africa. We are still working on some aspects.”

Chopra said the conditions here also helped him in finding big throws and Zelezny also told him that he can cross the 90m mark.

“When I was having warm-up throws my coach said today is the day when I can throw 90m. After my 90m throw also, he told me I can throw 2-3m farther.

“The wind helps for sure and the weather is a little warm and that helps. It’s the first competition of the year, so everyone came with a fresh mindset after a long time and has hunger inside for the throwing part.

“I also told Julian (Weber) that we can throw 90m. I am also happy for him. We have tried very hard for 90m for so many years, and so we are happy. It’s like a good push between us and in the next competition we will push each other again and will throw farther,” he said.

Chopra rued that when he breached national record earlier, he had to finish second twice.

“It had happened earlier also. When I threw an NR with over 89m in Turku, I finished second. In Stockholm DL, when I threw 89.94m, I was second again, so also here,” Chopra said.

Weber, on his part, said he did not do anything extra but had a feeling that he can breach the 90m mark here.

“I did not know how it happened. I had a very good massage thanks to my physiotherapist. It was fun today. Neeraj threw his first 90m plus and I went past the mark in my last throw and that was just perfect.

“I was very happy for him. We have been fighting for the 90m throw for a long time and we both achieved that today. So, it was very special for us.”

It was Weber’s first 90m-plus effort as well, and he became the 26th javelin thrower to breach the coveted mark. His effort was the world leading mark this season so far.

Two-time world champion and Paris Olympics bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada was third with his opening throw of 84.65m.