Neeraj Chopra remains focused on improvement despite victory in Paris: 'So many things we have to change'

First Post

3 hours ago

Neeraj Chopra emerged triumphant in the Paris Diamond League meet on Friday with a throw of 88.16m in his first attempt, standing on top of the podium after a series of second-place finishes. The two-time Olympic medallist, however, chose to focus on his shortcomings after the victory. read more
Neeraj Chopra secured his first victory of the 2025 season in the Paris Diamond League meet on Friday, 20 June. PTI
After enduring multiple second-placed finishes last year including at the Paris Olympics and the Diamond League finals, Neeraj Chopra was back to winning ways on Friday. The Indian javelin star didn't breach the 90-metre mark like he did in Doha – for the first time in his career – last month but managed to win the Paris Diamond League meet nevertheless with a best throw of 88.16 metres.
Chopra's winning throw, which came in his very first attempt, was enough to beat Germany's Weber, who finished second with best effort of 87.88m which also came in his first attempt.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'I'm happy with the throw. It was my first throw and it was good start, and I was hoping for the throw to be really good today. My run-up was really fast today. I can't control my speed. But I'm happy with the result and first position,' Chopra said in an interview after winning the Paris meet at Stade Sebastien Charlety.
Still some work to be done, says Chopra after Paris victory
The 27-year-old, who currently trains with Czech javelin legend Jan Zelezny, added that he still needs to work on his control along with a stronger core and body if he is to breach the 90-metre mark on a regular basis.
'Yes, I need some more control when I throw, like on the attack. We are working on it in training, but still, there are so many things we have to change, and I need maybe a stronger core and stronger body for throwing,' added Chopra, who had recently been conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army.
'It's just a matter of time and rhythm… getting more and more competitions.
'…like timing, because I feel really good (in the) run-up, but the timing was not so good when I threw (the javelin). I quickly go left, and it is not good. I need to throw to the front, like with the chest, and go up with the javelin. We are working on it,' he added.
Weber had defeated Chopra at the Doha Diamond League meet on 16 May with a best effort of 91.06m, dampening the latter's feat of finally conquering the 90-metre mark for the first time in his career with a best effort of 90.23m.
Chopra will next be seen in action at Golden Spike Ostrava, a gold-level meeting on the World Athletics Continental Tour in Czech Republic, before turning his attention to the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic, a World Athletics category A event that takes place in Bengaluru on 5 July.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
His focus this year, however, will be on defending his title at the World Athletics Championships that takes place in Tokyo in September.