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Neeraj Chopra prioritizes winning titles and consistency over the 90-meter mark. He returns to the Commonwealth Games, aiming for gold
Neeraj Chopra (Picture Credit: AP)
Neeraj Chopra has underlined that while the elusive 90-metre mark may capture headlines, his true focus remains on winning titles and maintaining consistency at the highest level. As the two-time Olympic medallist gears up for his return to the Commonwealth Games, the reigning world champion said delivering when it matters most is far more important than chasing a specific distance.
Chopra, who finally breached the 90m barrier with a personal best throw of 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League last year, said he has never been fixated on hitting a number, especially in major competitions.
“No, I don’t feel that pressure, nor do I obsess over a specific distance. As an athlete, my goal is always to improve my distance,” he said. “I always feel in major Games, the main challenge is winning gold among the best athletes in the world. The second thing is distance. So I feel I need to keep increasing my distance.”
He emphasised that external factors like weather often dictate performances, making consistency a key trait for elite athletes.
“But when the conditions are tough, we are not able to get the distance. In that case, we have to be consistent. So I feel I should maintain my consistency and see how I can also increase my distance.”
Despite crossing the 90m milestone, Chopra remains driven to push his limits further.
“I definitely want to improve my throw,” he said.
The 28-year-old also welcomed the rising standard of competition in Asia, with Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem and Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage among those elevating the sport.
“That’s a good thing. When the competition is tough, we can push each other more. Especially in South Asia, there is a lot of strong competition now. Everyone will push themselves here,” he said.
Returning to the Commonwealth Games for the first time since his gold-winning debut in 2018, Chopra expects a challenging field and testing conditions, with rain and wind likely to play a role.
“The field is quite tough. Olympic and World Championship, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games medallists are here. All of them perform in the Diamond League. I was doing some training throws yesterday. The conditions are tough, but they are the same for everyone,” he said.
Now fully fit after injury, Chopra said he feels in a much better space physically. Reflecting on his return, Chopra said the Commonwealth Games remain special as the stage where his senior career began.
“It is good now. I played my first competition in Doha after recovering, and it went well. I worked on my weaknesses and fitness, and I feel much better now. I have very good memories of the Commonwealth Games. It was my first senior competition at the Commonwealth Games, and I essentially started my senior career there when I won gold.”
“It’s been eight years now, and finally I am back here. As I always say, when you represent your country, big Games are always special.”
“I am happy that I am back on the field; I am feeling good, and I have been working on my game for a while now. The nature of the competition has changed a lot in the last eight years,” he added.
Chopra will begin his campaign on July 30 with the men’s javelin qualification, aiming to once again rise to the occasion and add another major medal to his decorated career.
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