Last Updated:
Chopra, who has a career-best throw of 89.94m, has been pursuing the 90m target for a while and has revealed that Zelezny’s analysis of his technique could help him breach the elusive distance.
Neeraj Chopra. (X)
Indian javelin throw ace Neeraj Chopra divulged that his new coach Jan Zelezny, who holds the WR with a mammoth 98.48m throw, has identified areas of improvement to further bolster the two-time Olympic medallist’s performance as Chopra goes in search of th coveted 90m mark effort.
Chopra, who has a career-best throw of 89.94m, has been pursuing the 90m target for a while and has revealed that Zelezny’s analysis of his technique could help him breach the elusive distance.
“I believe a 90+ throw is happening soon,” Chopra said.
“He (Jan Zelezny) has made some technical adjustments in my game,” he added.
“He feels that his tweaks would help me. I’ve been able to understand what he expects from me,”
Chopra stated that Zelezny has noted a lack of elevation in Chopra’s throws, while the 27-year-old also has the propensity to lean towards the left which releasing the javelin.
“One of the mistakes that he told me about was how I was throwing very low even in Paris and that I was leaning towards the left,” the Khandra-born superstar said.
“If I am able to incorporate those changes, I think I will get a lot better,” he added.
As much as the Tokyo gold medallist would like to breach the 90m mark, he reiterated that clinching medals for the country was of more essence than any personal achievements.
“I want to do it myself. But, going to a competition and winning a medal against people who have previously thrown 90 meters is even more important. There’s no point in throwing 90 meters and not winning,” he beamed.
“What if everyone throws 90+ there and despite throwing 90, you don’t win? I want to throw more than 90 meters; everyone believes I can do that. Klaus Bartoniet believed it, and Zelezny believes it.
Chopra added that he would be able to scale the milestone if he could manage to fix the line of his javelin attempts and also touched upon the groin injury that has troubled him.
“It will come off if I can fix the javelin line. I am giving my 100 percent, and that is important for me,” Chopra said.
“Groin injury has been an issue for a long time. I wasn’t able to give 100 per cent in my technique because of my injury. I went to Zelezny’s doctor in Prague, and he suggested some exercises. I am working on that, so hopefully it helps, and I am able to give my 100 per cent,” he signed off..
