Can the 23-year-old Javelin thrower give India that the Olympic track and medal is difficult to understand? New Delhi: The first glance at the Chopra Neeraj and one will feel he is a rock throwback star.
Long hair and flapping and high frames make it look like one.
But he was a javelin thrower.
One world class.
The main medal of hope for India at the Tokyo Olympics.
There are aesthetics attached to it too.
When he ran with his javelin and then threw it with all his might – everything left – it was like a moving poem.
Tokyo games will be their first Olympic.
It could be second and the first Rio Olympics.
In 2016, just before the game Rio, he had hunted an Olympic qualification mark with a throw of 86.48 m in the world U-20 championship in Poland, but the throw came two weeks after the scheduled cut-off date.
“If I throw the same distance that I have achieved in Poland, I will win a bronze at the Rio Olympics,” Neeraj reflects.
“Of course, I feel sad that I can’t participate in Rio because, in the end, it’s the Olympics – the biggest event for a athlete.
It comes once every four years.
This time five years.
Many things change in four years..
For a country , for people, for a athlete.
Fortunately, this time I will take part.
“I know this country has a lot of hope from me.
This is also justified.
But I didn’t try and take the pressure of hope.
What I can do is train well, give the best, and make sure nothing is left later I think ‘Ohh, I can do that’.
In our country, everyone wants no less than gold.
But there are other top athletes who will also participate in the Olympics.
They did not come to Tokyo to just make numbers.
Medals or not depend on many factors.
For me, consistency will be important.
Consistency in my throw gave me confidence.
“Recently, in the Quortane Grand Prix in Finland, Neeraj was third with a throw of 86.79 million.
The Kuorlane program was the first in a long time where Neeraj experienced competition with the type of” athletes “.
He will face the Olympics .
Heat’s favorite to win gold in Tokyo, German Johannes Vetter is present there.
So is Trinidad Keshorn Walcott, a gold medal in 2012 Winner and Bronze Winner in Rio.
A large 93.59m throw.
Walcott is in second place with the best of years It is 89.12m.
The best personal neeraj is 88.07m, which came earlier this year at the third leg of the Indian Grand Prix in Patiala.
Both of Vetter and Walcott have violated the coveted 90m marks in their career.
While the best Vetter is 97.76m, which ranks Secondly on the list of the overall best throw behind the legendary Jan Zelezny (98.48m) from the Czech Republic, the best Walcott is 90.16m.
Other Germany, Andreas Hofmann is the best I S 92.06M.
He will come to Tokyo too.
Two Germany again, Bernard Seifert (PB: 89.06M) and Julian Webber (88.29m) have not violated the 90m sign, but in front of NEERAJ in terms of their best throws.
The world champion that ruled Anderson Peters (PB: 87.31 M) from Grenada, Marcin Krukowski (PB: 89.55m), the Czech Republic Jakub Vadlejch (PB: 89.73M) will also be proven to be the challenger of NEERAJ.
“This group is the best ever seen the world in the history of sports.
Now 6-7 throws throw more than 88 million.
This is not just me.
But, I tend to give the best when there is a competition.
My body responded well for competition,” said Neeraj with a touch of trust.
“I can do better.
My body told me that I could push further.
Maybe, I’ll be able to pass the 90m mark this year.” However, there are some help for NEERAJ.
Defending the Olympic Champion, Thomas Rooehler Germany (PB: 93.90M) has pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics due to back injury, and 2019 World Championship Silver Medal Magnus Kirt (PB: 90.61m) Estonia has also resigned due to a foot injury.
“Two years I waste.
Because of the elbow injury and the next operation, 2019 sneaked away; then because Covid, 2020 was also fully affected.
I feel my throw will increase further if these two years are not a waste and I can get a chance To participate in more competition.
“When competing, NEERAJ uses two types of Javelin – Javelin Nordic or Nemeth.
At the Olympics, what was released? “Nordic Javelin is a hard Javelin.
I prefer Nordic …
Nemeth can also be used.
Actually, the choice is very dependent on external factors – like the wind on the day given.
We (Javelin thrower) choose the right one.” Throwing Javelin Men is scheduled to take place on August 4 and 7 at the Olympics.