Neeraj Chopra, India’s javelin throwing sensation, showcased remarkable resilience and fighting spirit at the Lausanne Diamond League, securing a second-place finish despite battling a persistent groin injury.
Chopra has been managing discomfort in his adductors for almost a year, forcing him to prioritize injury prevention over maximizing his throws. This strategy was evident in Lausanne, where he struggled to consistently reach his usual range throughout the competition. Facing the possibility of finishing outside the top three for the first time since 2018, Chopra delivered two clutch throws in his final two attempts. His efforts of 85.58m and 89.49m not only catapulted him back into the top bracket but also brought him tantalizingly close to the coveted 90m mark once again.
“In the beginning, it was really hard today. My body didn’t feel good. But I pushed myself mentally in the fifth and last attempt. In the last attempt, I really won because (Anderson) Peters threw 90 meters. And the body didn’t feel good but the fighting spirit was really nice today. I really liked that comeback with my second best throw,” Chopra shared with broadcasters after his event.
His 89.49m throw marked his season’s best and his second-best ever. Interestingly, Chopra’s top three throws have all come in second-place finishes. “In the last throw, I didn’t think much and I just gave my best. I think too much. In the beginning, I was thinking I have to do this, do that. But Julius Yego told me, ‘Stay relaxed, you will throw far.’ So I tried to stay relaxed and hit it clean.”
While Chopra acknowledged that his injury hasn’t significantly hampered him since the Paris Olympics, he credited his physiotherapist, Ishan Marwaha, for keeping his recovery on track. “Luckily after Paris, it was not too much. So I did some treatment with my physio. He did really well and I feel good. I did some very easy throwing sessions after Paris. And it was a strange competition today. In the beginning, I did not feel that I could throw that far but in the end, it was really good.”
In a pre-competition interaction with the media, Chopra hinted at concluding his season after the Diamond League final in Brussels on September 13-14. However, he left the possibility open for a potential appearance at the Zurich Diamond League on September 5. “We will see. Maybe maximum one more competition and then (I’ll) finish the season.”
Looking ahead to the next season, Chopra prioritized his fitness recovery. “First, my goal is to go to the doctor and I want to make my groin 100% fit. It will help me be more technically better next year and then maybe I will try to throw far again.”
