Neeraj Chopra has yet to surpass the highly anticipated 90-meter mark in javelin throwing, but his personal best of 89.94m achieved at the 2022 Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden stands as a national record. Neeraj expressed his proximity to reaching the 90-meter milestone but emphasized that he is not rushing the process.
“I am very close to it. I want to achieve that milestone on my own terms. I have faith in the process. Whenever it happens, it will happen. I’m not in a hurry. I am content with my consistent performances; that’s my primary focus,” Neeraj stated to reporters.
Neeraj takes pride in maintaining a high level of consistency over the past four years, not only in competitive events but also during his training regimen.
“It’s not just about being consistent in competition but also in training. Maintaining good training habits and refining my technique is crucial for progress. Last year, I set two national records, which was a positive development. This year, I felt good, but injuries posed a temporary setback. I’m pleased with my consistency,” Neeraj remarked.
Neeraj has achieved success at the highest levels of competition, securing gold medals at the World Championships, Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and even the Diamond League title.
In regard to his upcoming competition, Neeraj Chopra, India’s world champion and Olympic medalist in javelin throwing, acknowledged the attention on his rivalry with Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem but emphasized that his primary focus remains on self-improvement in technique and performance during the title event.
“While there is some interest in the competition with Arshad Nadeem, I always prioritize giving my best and not fixating on my opponents. In athletics, the real competition is with oneself, striving to achieve personal bests. Certainly, India-Pakistan rivalry draws attention at the Asian Games since there are no European athletes, but my main battle is with myself, striving to enhance my technique and throws,” Neeraj remarked when asked about competing against Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem.
The first encounter between these two athletes took place at the South Asian Games in Guwahati in 2016, where Neeraj claimed gold and Nadeem secured bronze. Neeraj currently maintains an unblemished 9-0 record against Nadeem. Despite Neeraj’s dominance in overall statistics, Arshad has been progressively improving his performances since 2018 and could present a formidable challenge to Neeraj’s supremacy.
