Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion in javelin throw, secured a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Paris, falling short of gold to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem. Despite the disappointment of not hearing the Indian national anthem play at the podium, Neeraj maintains a positive outlook, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of sports. “It’s the reality of sports—no matter how great a champion someone is, they don’t always win. At some point, the result won’t go in their favor. It would have been great to hear the national anthem play, but I’m happy with the silver medal I won for my country,” he shared in an exclusive interview with Sportstar.
During the final, Neeraj faced challenges with his run-up, leading to several foul throws. “A lot of my throws were foul throws. Some of those I did deliberately, though. I was just checking where I got blocked. I just wanted to have a look at the area,” he explained.
Neeraj’s competitive spirit often manifests as aggression on the field, which he acknowledges and actively manages. “Yes, I do get angry. I can’t say I get angry on the field. I get aggressive on the field. I think it is necessary sometimes. I try to handle it. Along with the aggression, I try to keep my focus on technique and performance,” he said.
The silver medalist has been battling a persistent injury, which has undoubtedly impacted his performance. “Yes, it is difficult to compete despite an injury. Instead of the performance, you focus more on not aggravating the injury. Despite that, I performed well and got my season-best throw,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Neeraj aims to improve both his technical prowess and his overall performance. “Javelin is a technical sport. You always have some scope for improvement. There are a few things that I have to improve. I will work on that in the next off-season,” he revealed.
While mental health has become a significant topic in sports, Neeraj maintains a calm and grounded approach. “I don’t do anything (for good mental health). I just work hard and keep my focus on it,” he shared, expressing his determination to raise the bar in future competitions.
